The Industrial Age began in the late 1700s with the rise of machine-based production. It first developed in Great Britain and later spread to Europe, North America, and other regions. This period changed how goods were made and how people worked.

Factories replaced many small workshops, and machines such as the steam engine powered production. Industries like textiles and iron grew quickly. Railways and steamships improved transport and connected regions.

Cities expanded as people moved for factory jobs. Industrial centers developed in places like Manchester, Germany’s Ruhr region, and the northeastern United States. The Industrial Age became a key period in global economic and social change.