Curated atlas · Economics

The Industrial Revolution

Eighty years that transformed humanity — from cottage industries and horse power to steam engines, factories, and railways.

81 years

4,212 blocks

26 events

5 stages

1 block = 1 week · 1 row = 52 weeks81y · 4,212 blocks

1760

1780

1800

1820

1840

Stages

Timeline ledger

Chronicle

26 events · 5 stages

Textile revolution

31y 5w

Jan 1, 1760 → Dec 28, 1790

Bridgewater Canal opens

Jul 14, 1761

Spinning Jenny invented

Dec 27, 1763

Age of steam

61y 47w

Jan 3, 1769 → Sep 14, 1830

Watt improves the steam engine

Jan 3, 1769

Arkwright's water frame patented

Jun 27, 1769

Cromford Mill opens

Nov 26, 1771

Adam Smith publishes The Wealth of Nations

Mar 5, 1776

Iron & canal era

51y 46w

Dec 29, 1778 → Sep 14, 1830

Crompton invents the spinning mule

Dec 29, 1778

Iron Bridge opens

Dec 26, 1780

Montgolfier brothers' hot-air balloon

Nov 18, 1783

Cartwright patents the power loom

Mar 29, 1785

Wilkinson launches an iron boat

Jul 10, 1787

Whitney invents the cotton gin

Mar 11, 1794

Jenner develops smallpox vaccine

May 10, 1796

First gas-lit factory

Dec 26, 1797

Social upheaval & reform

41y 7w

Dec 31, 1799 → Dec 29, 1840

Whitney demonstrates interchangeable parts

Jan 13, 1801

Trevithick's steam locomotive

Feb 21, 1804

Fulton's steamboat Clermont

Aug 11, 1807

Luddite protests begin

Feb 26, 1811

Peterloo Massacre

Aug 10, 1819

Railway revolution

15y 16w

Sep 27, 1825 → Dec 29, 1840

Stockton & Darlington Railway opens

Sep 27, 1825

Stephenson's Rocket

Oct 6, 1829

Liverpool & Manchester Railway opens

Sep 14, 1830

Factory Act of 1833

Aug 27, 1833

Morse demonstrates the telegraph

Jan 2, 1838

SS Great Western crosses the Atlantic

Apr 3, 1838

Penny Post introduced

Jan 7, 1840

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