Industry and Livelihoods before the Industrial Revolution

Life before the Industrial Revolution Not based on machinery No mass production

Time – measured by religious events and seasons Change – rare Income – from farming Disease – common Family size – small High infant mortality (death) rate 1 in 3 dies within first year of life 1 in 2 reach age 21 Average life expectance = 40 Location – most in country villages Most never travel outside of village

Most are farmers Rent/own small strips of land in several areas of the village Cooperative farming

Public land – “village commons” Woodlands Pastures Less-fertile soil No fencing between public and private

Economics – local Not good transportation Muddy roads Self-sufficient towns Grow enough for family + small amount to sell Make own: Homes Clothes Tools

The Rich Country Estates – main house, cottages, barns, many fields Luxurious living Many servants

The Poor Rend land from landowners Cottages: small, smoky, poorly lit, dirt floors Sometimes shared shelter with animals

Farming Traditional Same methods/tools as ancestors Rely on weather for good seasons Unpredictable Involves every family member

Small-scale industry Coal mines Focus on providing necessities Coal Iron Glass Clothes Most workers were also farm workers Help with harvest Farmers help in workshops during winter

Wool Second to farming Needs network 1. Buy raw fiber 2. Clean, sort and spin fiber into thread/yarn 3. Yarn to weaver 4. Material to fuller – shape/clean material 5. Dyer - coloring

Domestic System Every person focuses on one step of a process Like weaving/wool AKA – “Cottage System” or “Cottage Industry” Workers are highly specialized Different stages of a process are handled by different people in different cottages

Coal Located under farms Mine workers worked on farms during harvest Farm horses pull coal wagons from coal pits Other Buy what you can’t make Guns, furniture, clothing Imported goods Barter system Trade what you have for what you need