The British Revolution occurred between the 18th and 19th centuries and was a period during which predominantly agrarian and rural societies in Europe, particularly in Great Britain, became industrial and urban . Before the Industrial Revolution, manual labor was done in homes with basic machines or hand tools. The main way of life was agriculture, where most people lived in small rural communities. People produced most of their own goods such as clothing, furniture, and tools, remaining self-sufficient. However, the life of an average person was on the edge of the abyss as diseases were prominent and the average income was low. A number of factors led to the industrial revolution. First, the agricultural revolution of the 18th century created a climate favorable to industrialization. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay By increasing food production, the British population could be fed more cheaply with less effort than ever before. The food surplus meant that British families could use the money they saved to buy manufactured goods. Britain's rising population and the exodus of farmers from rural to urban areas in search of wage work created a ready pool of workers for the new industries. Britain had financial institutions, such as a central bank, to finance new factories. The profits that Britain had enjoyed from the booming cotton and trading industries allowed investors to support the construction of factories. British entrepreneurs interested in taking risks to make profits led the industrialization drive. The English revolutions of the 17th century had fostered a spirit of economic prosperity. Early industrial entrepreneurs were willing to take risks with the possibility of reaping financial rewards later. Britain had a vast supply of mineral resources used to run industrial machines, such as coal. As Britain is a relatively small country, these resources could be transported quickly and at a reasonable cost. The British government passed laws that protected private property and placed few restrictions on private entrepreneurs. The British merchant navy could transport goods to foreign markets. Finally, the British colonial empire created a ready supply of consumers to purchase its manufactured goods. In the 1700s the Industrial Revolution began with a series of innovations that led to ever greater productivity while requiring less human energy. For example, around 1764, Englishman James Hargreaves invented the spinning machine, a machine that allowed an individual to produce multiple spools of thread at once. At the time of Hargreaves' death, there were over 20,000 spinning jennys in use across Britain. The spinning jenny was later improved by British inventor Samuel Compton's spinning mule, as well as subsequent machines. Another key textile innovation, the power loom, which mechanized the process of weaving fabric, was developed in 1780 by English inventor Edmund Cartwright. Developments in the iron industry also played a central role in the industrial revolution. In the early 18th century, Englishman Abraham Darby discovered a cheaper and simpler method of producing pig iron, using a coke-fired furnace. In 1850, British engineer Henry Bessemer developed the first economical process for mass producing steel. Both iron and steel.