The Importance of Transport
There are various reasons why developments in transportation affected the industrial revolution as well as vice versa. Arguably changes in transportation contributed to the onset of the industrial revolution in the first place.
Transportation and the Industrial Revolution were strongly inter connected with each other because without improved modes of transportation it would have been harder for the industrial producers of the industrial revolution to produce and then sell their goods to ever wider markets.
Canals Show The Way Forward
At the start of the eighteenth century transportation in Europe was still fairly primitive. Although some European countries had overseas empires transport to and from colonies was slow by sailing ships. There had been no major road construction projects since the end of the Roman Empire; roads were little more than dirt tracks. Frequently it was quicker to transport people, raw materials, and finished products by river than over land on poor roads.
The first way in which Transportation and the Industrial Revolution demonstrated that they were closely connected to each other was the development of a canal network in England that linked London with industrial centres such as Birmingham, Manchester, and Newcastle. The new canal system also meant that places like Birmingham and Manchester were able to receive coal and other materials from mining areas and seaports.
Steam Ships, Railways, And Roads
The link between Transportation and the Industrial Revolution was further increased by the invention of steam trains and railway networks. Once again Great Britain took the lead in technological and industrial development, with a national railway network been constructed in lass than twenty years. Railway networks soon spread to continental Europe, North America, South America, Asia, as well as Africa. The construction of railway networks also needed increased levels of coal and iron production.
A further increase in the connection of Transportation and the Industrial Revolution to each other was the replacement of wooden sailing ships by metal steam powered ships. With the emergence of steam powered ships the time to transport people, raw materials, as well as consumer goods around the world reduced markedly.
Transportation and the Industrial Revolution was demonstrated to be closely connected with the development of improved road networks assisted by the use of tarmac and other materials meant roads were usable all year round. The development of the internal combustion engine and the motor car further increased the relationship between Transportation and the Industrial Revolution.
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