Continental Europe Industrializes

The French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars between 1789 and 1815 had halted trade, interrupted communication, and caused inflation in some parts of the continent.

Germany Industrializes Industrialization begins in the coal rich Ruhr Valley of west central Germany

1835- Germany began to copy the British model. Imported British equipment and engineers. Manufacturers sent their children to England to learn industrial management. Built railroads that linked major cities (Frankfurt) with the Ruhr Valley’s coal and iron ore deposits.

1858-German economist wrote, “Railroads and machine shops, coal mines and iron foundries, spinneries and rolling mills seem to spring up out of the ground, and smokestacks sprout from the earth like mushrooms.” By the late 1800s; a unified, imperial Germany had become both an industrial and military giant.

New emperor Mutsuhito is given allegiance by a group of Samurai, but kept the real power for themselves. Meiji rulers looked to make Japan capable of competing with Western nations. “Rich country, strong military”; brought forms of parliamentary government to Japan, strengthened the military, and worked to transform the nation into industrial society.

1868- Meiji era in Japan Financed textile mills, coal mines, shipyards, and cement and other factories. Private companies (Mitsubishi: founded in 1870) invested in industry.

Industrializing of Japan produced sustained economic growth for the country Led to strengthening the military and to Japanese imperialism in Asia.