INDUSTRY in EME How much did it change

Intro  English Industry was considered backward in 1558 – by 1700 it was best in Europe.  In 1558 was only a way to provide jobs for the poor – by 1667 it was one of the ‘engines of the state’.  This engine increased national power and prosperity.  Was there an Industrial Revolution?

Main areas of Industry

Was there an Industrial Revolution?  Industrial Revolution = rapid increase in output based on new methods, either in technology or organisation, or both.  Many historians and economists believe agriculture has to change before industry can change (they base this idea on what is happening in Africa now)  In 1920’s and 30’s J.U. Nef argued there was a’ Tudor’ revolution btw Based his assumption on change in Coal industry.  By late 1930’s his views were being challenged by other historians.

Industrial Revolution?  Historians such as Coleman, Deane and Fisher said that the changes that took place were too narrow to be a ‘proper’ revolution.  It is important to remember that in 16 th and 17 th C industry existed to meet the needs of the people of its OWN time – not those in the future.

COAL  Seen as substitute for wood – especially for the poor  Used in industries which involved boiling of liquids  Brewing; salt boiling; dyeing cloth.  Most development of coal mines was small scale though – hardly industrial revolution stuff?

IronMining  Iron industry largest metal industry in England.  Went from 5000 tons / year in 1558 to in 1660’s.  Technical innovations – development of blast furnace to take over from bloomery to extract iron.  Blast furnaces were more efficient at heating so produced more iron, but only cast iron, not wrought iron.

Bloomery and Blast Furnace

Smaller scale industries  Normally designed for domestic consumption.  Collectively, more important than major industries = served local market, and day-to-day requirements.  Eg.  Brewing  Baking  Milling (of wheat into grain and then into flour)  Leather making  Clothes makers in all towns

CLOTH INDUSTRY  Outside agriculture, cloth industry biggest employer in EME  Many diff. types of cloth  Traditional heavy broadcloth  Worsteds (middle weight)  Lighter cloth – called New Draperies  Cloth industry suited “putting out” system. Many people doing a part of the process individually.  Technology didn’t allow for larger scale production  Took advantage of people who were ‘underemployed’