Back to the Future: A tale of Industrial Revolutions

I felt that before we start talking about modern-day technology and economics - we should take a trip down memory lane to see how we actually got to 'today'. How did we go from rural farmers to smartphone wizards?

Let's take a trip!

Before the Industrial Revolution:

Picture yourself in the 1750s, you are most likely a farmer looking after your crops and family. Living each day as it comes, hoping for good weather and a fair harvest. You earn the same as your neighbour and the vast majority of the world.

There is unity in income but also in poverty. Before the 1750s if you failed to have a good harvest or if you were unfortunate enough to be raided - then it is very likely that you and your family could face famine and death. The only saving grace that kept you above famine and extreme poverty was your next harvest.

'Living harvest to harvest...' sound familiar?

With such a steep curve to survival, this rapidly brought about socio-economic challenges. Hunger would often lead to rebellion, revolutions and social instability. Much like the French Revolution in 1789.

For thousands of years, the growth of humanity and the world economy was essentially flat. Can you imagine a world where the population is under 500 million!?

The First Industrial Revolution - The Steam Age:

Now we skip ahead to the 1770s and find ourselves in a country facing astonishing changes - England. In the 1770s, England was a revolutionary place, the policies made at this time still stand true till today - such as intellectual property and patents.

Once the internal disputes were settled between the various rulers in England, it allowed England to focus on unity and development. This led to excess agriculture that allowed workers and people to transition from the fields to factories without impacting their survival.

The biggest breakthrough that came about was the steam engine. Although it was invented in 1712, it took a fair amount of design improvements before it began its movement in 1776.

The steam engine wasn't just for trains, but also for factories. It paved the way for the great steel and metal industries, which helped to build the cities and infrastructure.

Once you were a farmer in the 1750s, praying for a fair harvest and good weather. Now in England during the 1800s with steam trains running on the great railroads, it connected the farmers, cities and markets together. A person who was limited to their own patch of land could broaden their horizon for the first time and learn about new products and ways of farming.

At this point, communication and phones were not around. So, for a farmer in Africa or Asia, news of this revolution took many years to reach and many more to begin a revolution in other continents.

The Second Industrial Revolution - Age of Electricity & Chemicals (1870 - 1914):

Now picture yourself, a well-established farmer on a trip to New Jersey. As you walk past a house you see a bright light in the middle of the night that is not common for any candle you may have seen. You have just walked past Thomas Edison's home.

Welcome to the Second Industrial Revolution - the age of electricity, steel /alloys and chemicals in the late 1800s.

Thomas Edison developed upon the understanding of electromagnetism and induction that was discovered by Benjamin Franklin and Michael Faraday, to create the first commercial lightbulb.

Now all the homes, factories and streets were lit up with lightbulbs! It was the first time where electricity would be part of people's life. All of a sudden, the night was not so dark anymore.

Oil & Gas were also emerging in the late 1800s, with the infamous Standard Oil company being formed by John D. Rockefeller. In the 1870s to 1890s the research and development in the refinement of oil were conducted to make more reliable and efficient kerosene.

Petroleum was a far more adaptable energy source than traditional coal, by refining kerosene from crude oil allowed a far cheaper and more efficient alternative to fuel lamps. Far better than using coal-oil and the grim whale oil.

This research and development came at a perfect time to fuel the increasing demand for steel, chemicals and methods of communication. The growth of Oil companies in the USA was exponential. Within 5 years of the first discovery of oil in Los Angeles in 1892, by 1897 there were almost 2500 wells and 200 oil companies in the area!

The new power-generation industry was in full force. With Oil and Gas giving even more power to previous inventions. Complex products like plastics and chemicals were being created and more innovations were being designed on the way!

The Third Industrial Revolution - Automobile and Aviation:

From the 1880s to 1930s the age of the automobile and aviation hit the tarmac speeding.

The automobile boom changed how we live and function as a society. It changed how and where we live, how we transport and receive goods, and how we interact with broader markets and economies.

Living on a farm in the 1750s and trying to travel would have been difficult and dangerous. Now with a car, you could cover the distance in less time, take your crops and also take a friend!

The development of the automobile industry also allowed aviation technology to start blossoming. In 1903 the infamous Wright brothers made their first engine-powered flight, triggering a huge interest in the aviation industry. It was at this moment a man could take to the sky! And from the sky were numerous opportunities for globalisation and supply chain opportunities.

The Automobile and Aviation industry greatly benefitted from the foundations that were made in the Oil and Gas Industries, allowing engine technology to grow and develop with complex metals, alloys and materials. Both industries grew rapidly and contributed greatly to the growth of the world economy. And even to this day, they play a vital role in our society.

One of the most infamous car manufacturers, Ford, began its journey in the early 1900s!

The Fourth Industrial Revolution - Digital Revolution:

The age of Information and Communication Technology, also named the Digital Revolution drastically changed our world as we live it.

We cannot discount the number of technological advances that occurred during WWII, from semiconductors, radar, computers, coding and many others. By the end of 1940s, the transistor was created, which led to the concept of an integrated circuit in the 1950s which is where the modern computer revolution truly boomed.

The transistors allow for data to be stored, processed and transmitted. The more transistors you have, the more data that can be processed. Gordon Moore noted that every 18-24 months the number of transistors packed into a closed-circuit will double and keep doubling until the atomic limit is reached... and this trend has been true since the 1950s!

With the power of computers growing exponentially, it has rapidly propelled us into our modern day. Where phones are more than just tools for communication but also social inclusion, entertainment, education, utilities and more features and functions than I can list.

On the next post following this series, I'll dive into our present-day where we are living in the Industry 4.0 revolution and how this will help transition us into the next revolution…

Part 2: The Modern Day with Industry 4.0 and Sustainable Technology Revolution.