Part Three: Transformation to Urban Industrial Capitalism
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January 2021
- Jan 22, 2021 #24 A Transformative Timeline: Transformation and Destruction Jan 22, 2021
- Jan 29, 2021 #25 Transformation is Revolutionary Jan 29, 2021
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February 2021
- Feb 5, 2021 #26 Transformation and Western Social Science Feb 5, 2021
- Feb 12, 2021 #27 The French Revolution, Napoleon and the Beginnings of Transformation Across Europe Feb 12, 2021
- Feb 19, 2021 #28 War, Revolution and the Struggle for European Domination 1750 to 1815: Conditions for Industrial Transformation in Europe Feb 19, 2021
- Feb 26, 2021 #29 European Transformation and World Power Feb 26, 2021
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March 2021
- Mar 5, 2021 #30 The Revolution in Haiti Mar 5, 2021
- Mar 12, 2021 #31 Britain and the 19th Century Mar 12, 2021
- Mar 19, 2021 #32 Industrialisation and Technological Transformation Mar 19, 2021
- Mar 26, 2021 #33 Finance, Banking and the Gold Standard: a Privatised National Money Market Mar 26, 2021
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April 2021
- Apr 1, 2021 #34 Catching Up and Falling Behind Apr 1, 2021
- Apr 9, 2021 #35 Monopoly Cartels: Concentration of Capital Apr 9, 2021
- Apr 16, 2021 #36 Industrialisation: the USA and Germany Apr 16, 2021
- Apr 23, 2021 #37 Colonisation Renewed: The Struggle for Global Dominance in the 19th Century Apr 23, 2021
#36 Industrialisation: the USA and Germany
During the 19th century, the world’s most powerful nations industrialised. Industrialisation was a historically unique process. Industrialisation involved the creation of ‘infrastructure’, communication through roads, railways, and canals; the building of massive factories, producing a huge volume of goods, and most of society living close together in urban housing side by side. None of this had ever occurred before in all the world’s history. Britain was out in front in the 19th century as she led the way with industrialisation, however, the USA caught up, and Germany too by the end of the century from a slow start. All three societies came to Industrialisation through their unique histories, so there were many differences.
#30 The Revolution in Haiti
The Haitian Revolution and the anti-slavery movement led by Britain might have been a watershed movement in the slave trade as a whole. It wasn't, however. Slave owners and West Indian island administrators were certainly terrified of new political risings by slaves. The movement in Britain to be rid of the slave trade needs to be understood in the context of religious movements within Britain itself. Many British historians have emphasised the moral high ground, as British legislation outlawed both the trade in slaves and slavery itself in 1807 and 1833…
#28 War, Revolution and the Struggle for European Domination 1750 to 1815: Conditions for Industrial Transformation in Europe
All progressive movements - such as the Haitian and later the Russian Revolutions - were deeply resented by the established authorities, and in 1815 the British, the Russians and the Ottomans attempted to replace the fallen monarchies. In this blog our aim is to examine the underlying causes which set the French Revolution in action. The sudden turmoil and revolutionary wars which consumed all of Europe after 1793 were a direct consequence of the French Revolution and loosened the ropes which held the feudal system of government in place…
#26 Transformation and Western Social Science
We need to ask and understand what are the necessary conditions for a society to transform itself so that it can industrialise? This question is perhaps one of the critical issues of history. In this blog, I examine what transformation entails for society and what conditions are necessary for this to occur. The components needed for transformation include the following occurring more or less simultaneously: 1. The reformation of ideas. Everywhere old ideas, in particular, religious frameworks are challenged…
#25 Transformation is Revolutionary
The transformation from an ancient society towards an industrial urban capitalist world has nearly always been a revolutionary process which has torn society apart. The almost complete breakdown of societies in the multi-layered wars between the 1780s and 1815, and then from 1914 to 1945, reflect these long-term processes at work. At the end of both periods, not only was the world a very different place with many millions of people dead, but many of the necessary conditions towards the industrial urban capitalist world had also been established.
#24 A Transformative Timeline: Transformation and Destruction
The twin historical forces of colonialism and capitalism ‘destroyed’ much of the ancient social, economic, ideological and political systems of the world and transformed it. Today we call this ‘progress’. Progress did not happen all at once, of course. People, states, and governments resisted over long periods, but in the end, most peoples were overwhelmed…