The Industrial Revolution and Urbanization
The industrial revolution started in Britain and occurred between 1750 and 1914, happening in three stages that were linked to dissimilar region and technology. The industrial revolution led to urbanization which also increased on the impacts of the industrial revolution itself. The impacts of urbanization and industrial revolution affected the following areas:
Structural Change in the Economy
A structural change in the economy due to a reduction in agrarian sector which was replaced by the industrial and commercial sections.
Revolutionized Production
Production was revolutionized due to the usage of new power sources.
Shift to Large Scale Production
Many factories changed to large scale production and manufacturing.
Advancement in Technology
Laid platform for advancement in technology.
Emergence of Different Types of Investments
Different types of investments came up because of urbanization and industrial revolution.
Impact on Society
The changes that occurred due to urbanization and industrial revolution affected the society. The consequences it had on the society were many and varied between regions and class. New families and structures of class came up to adjust to the economy of the new wage, with production moving from houses to large scale production in factories (Benna, 2018). Population growth in urban centers increased because of migration from rural places in search of jobs. The nature of earning a living changed from agriculture to industries, resulting in the migration of more people to the city from the rural areas.
Transformation of Class Structure
The class structure of the urban centers changed. The old division of the society into the noble, the clergy and the commoners was destroyed by the industrialization in Europe. As a result, new classes were formed, the working class and middle class (bourgeoisie).
Poor Living Conditions and Exploitation of Workers
Industrialization resulted in a mass of workers and poor living conditions. The workers had to work to survive. In addition, they were more hours to make extra money to support their families since wages were low and prices were high. The industrial revolution misused the workers who constantly lived under their subsistence needs. Masses of men and women moved into urban centers to earn a living oblivious to the situation that awaited them (Rabb, 1981).
Shift to Factory Production
Factory production took over the labor force based on a traditional rhythm with agricultural influences. The factory was based on time clock unlike the traditional based labor based on seasonal clock. The lazy pace of rural life was erased and replaced with shifts based on the clock because time translates to money. The factory production ultimately produced more goods due to increased labor force and working hours. The increased products saw increased profits for factory owners.
Growth of the Middle Class
Industrialization and urbanization led to the increase of the middle class or bourgeoisie. The middle class was made up of notaries, pro lawyers, teachers, entrepreneurs and physicians. The middle class rose because there were no social structures, everything and anything was up for grabs for the innovative and the brilliant.
Urbanization and Modernization
In Paris, Georges-Eugène Haussmann together with Napoleon III were immensely influenced by the urban technology, city planning and architecture especially that in England. Napoleon put Georges-Eugène Haussmann the head of the innovations which would modernize Paris and Seine. The urbanization saw population of Paris double to more than one million over a short period leading to overcrowding and increased stress on the infrastructure of Paris (Tang, 2017). The unplanned streets were narrow which confusing layouts and inefficient for commerce and traffic. Napoleon and Georges-Eugène Haussmann implemented a creative destruction which led to modernity and “Haussmannisation”.
Urbanization and industrial revolution led to the growth of urban centers and modernization of those centers. The lifestyle shifted from agriculture to industrial life, which later resulted in an increase in the labor force, large-scale production, increased products, and the growth of the middle class and the economy. Urbanization led to the modernization of many towns, centers, and cities. The modernization led to changes in the structural appearance and planning of a city which boosted the commercial needs.
References
Benna, U. (2018). Urbanization and its impact on socio-economic growth in developing regions. S.l.: IGI Global.
In Rabb, T. K., In Rotberg, R. I., & Africa, T. W. (1981). Industrialization and urbanization: Studies in interdisciplinary history.
Tang, Z. (2017). China's Urbanization and Socioeconomic Impact. Singapore: Springer.
