工业革命(Industrial Revolution)

指从农业和手工业经济转变到以工业和机器制造业为主的经济的过程。始於18世纪的英国。技术上的改变包括了钢铁、新能源的使用，发明新机器以提高产量（包括珍妮纺纱机），工厂体系的发展，运输及通讯重要的发展（包括蒸汽机和电报）。其他的改变还有︰农业上的改进，财富广泛的分配和政治变化反映出经济力量的转变，并造成激烈的社会变化。1760～1830年期间，工业革命大体上仅发生在英国；後传到比利时和法国。其他国家则延迟许久才发生，但德国、美国和日本一旦开始工业革命，其得到的成就远超过英国内部的成功。东欧国家迟至20世纪才开始，且至20世纪中期工业革命才传播到中国和印度。许多分析证据指出，20世纪晚期发生第二次工业革命，或称新工业革命，即新物质和新能源的利用、自动化工厂、生产工具所有制和自由放任主义管理的转变。

English version：

Industrial Revolution

Process of change from an agrarian, handicraft economy to one dominated by industry and machine manufacture. It began in England in the 18th century. Technological changes included the use of iron and steel, new energy sources, invention of new machines that increased production (including the spinning jenny), development of the factory system, and important developments in transportation and communication (including the steam engine and telegraph). Other changes included agricultural improvements, a wider distribution of wealth, political changes reflecting the shift in economic power, and sweeping social changes. The Industrial Revolution was largely confined to Britain from 1760 to 1830, then spread to Belgium and France. Other nations lagged behind, but once Germany, the U.S., and Japan achieved industrial power they outstripped Britain's initial successes. Eastern European countries lagged into the 20th century, and not until the mid-20th century did the Industrial Revolution spread to such countries as China and India. Many analysts saw evidence of a second, or new, industrial revolution in the later 20th century, with the use of new materials and energy sources, automated factories, new ownership of the means of production, and a shift away from laissez-faire government.