The document discusses the Industrial Revolution, which took place from the 18th to 19th centuries and marked a shift from manual labor and production in homes to machine-based, factory production. Key developments included inventions like the spinning jenny and water frame that mechanized the textile industry, James Watt's improvements to the steam engine, using coal instead of wood to produce iron, and building canals and early railways to improve transportation of goods. These changes resulted in much higher volumes of manufactured goods but also difficult working conditions and consequences for employment and society.