Changes in demography in industrialized societies that presented challenges to existing patterns of living:
The massive population increase from 375 million people in 1400 to 1 billion in the early nineteenth century led to an energy crisis in industrialized societies such as Western Europe, China, and Japan. The urban populations of these states/regions were becoming too large for their local resources. Wood and charcoal, the main fuels used in industrial production, were becoming scarce and their prices rose immensely. This led to the large-scale switch from wind, water, wood, and animal/human muscle power to non-renewable resources like coal, oil, and natural gas as the main sources of fuel for industrial activities. Soon, air pollution from coal-fired industries sparked a massive increase in the occurrence of respiratory illness. Issues such as poverty and the displacement of peasant farming and artisan manufacturing arose. In response to this transition, many people in Western Europe decided to escape such a complicated, expensive life by migrating to the North American colonies to buy inexpensive farm land. Others went to Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa. This also led to the influx of people to areas such as Western Europe and Japan in hopes of contributing either their ideas or their labor to the Industrial Revolution. Advances in transportation, such as the first railroads and the invention of the steam engine (which powered land vehicles as well as ships) allowed for many people to relocate to urban areas in the nineteenth century. These innovations also contributed to the increasing interconnections between producer and consumer during the Industrial Revolution.
The massive population increase from 375 million people in 1400 to 1 billion in the early nineteenth century led to an energy crisis in industrialized societies such as Western Europe, China, and Japan. The urban populations of these states/regions were becoming too large for their local resources. Wood and charcoal, the main fuels used in industrial production, were becoming scarce and their prices rose immensely. This led to the large-scale switch from wind, water, wood, and animal/human muscle power to non-renewable resources like coal, oil, and natural gas as the main sources of fuel for industrial activities. Soon, air pollution from coal-fired industries sparked a massive increase in the occurrence of respiratory illness. Issues such as poverty and the displacement of peasant farming and artisan manufacturing arose. In response to this transition, many people in Western Europe decided to escape such a complicated, expensive life by migrating to the North American colonies to buy inexpensive farm land. Others went to Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa. This also led to the influx of people to areas such as Western Europe and Japan in hopes of contributing either their ideas or their labor to the Industrial Revolution. Advances in transportation, such as the first railroads and the invention of the steam engine (which powered land vehicles as well as ships) allowed for many people to relocate to urban areas in the nineteenth century. These innovations also contributed to the increasing interconnections between producer and consumer during the Industrial Revolution.
Changes in demography in unindustrialized societies that presented challenges to existing patterns of living:
Unindustrialized societies, such as those in Western Africa, were often depleted of human resources because of the enormous amount unregulated slave trade that occurred. The Kingdom of Kongo was robbed of nearly 1/3 of its population by Portuguese slave traders. This led to the decrease in the production/cultivation of raw materials in these areas because large numbers of the working population were transported to the Americas to work as slaves. In other areas, such as rural Europe, Russia, the American Colonies, and parts of Japan, there were enormous pressures on the people engaged in the extraction of natural resources to provide for a growing urban population. This included the increased influx of slaves to cultivate cash crops such as cotton in the North American colonies as well as the large influx of men wanting to work coal mines in rural England. Many people migrated from industrialized societies to unindustrialized societies in order to escape issues associated with urbanization. This led to the unindustrialized areas of Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa to receive large European populations. Europeans injected a sharp racial divide with their migration to South Africa, damaging the unity of the country.
Unindustrialized societies, such as those in Western Africa, were often depleted of human resources because of the enormous amount unregulated slave trade that occurred. The Kingdom of Kongo was robbed of nearly 1/3 of its population by Portuguese slave traders. This led to the decrease in the production/cultivation of raw materials in these areas because large numbers of the working population were transported to the Americas to work as slaves. In other areas, such as rural Europe, Russia, the American Colonies, and parts of Japan, there were enormous pressures on the people engaged in the extraction of natural resources to provide for a growing urban population. This included the increased influx of slaves to cultivate cash crops such as cotton in the North American colonies as well as the large influx of men wanting to work coal mines in rural England. Many people migrated from industrialized societies to unindustrialized societies in order to escape issues associated with urbanization. This led to the unindustrialized areas of Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa to receive large European populations. Europeans injected a sharp racial divide with their migration to South Africa, damaging the unity of the country.
Changes in food production that contributed to a significant rise in population:
Industrialized societies greatly benefited from the importation of new crops from the Western Hemisphere, including potatoes, maize, and manioc. These quickly became staple crops that allowed European populations to expand during times of conflict and innovation. French commoners were able to thrive and expand their population during the French Revolution by growing potatoes because they were disease resistant and were unaffected when the French Army tried to burn above-ground crops. In addition, maize and potatoes supported the quickly-growing population of England during the Industrial Revolution. The introduction of wheat, rice, and barley as well as horses, pigs, and cattle into North America allowed for the establishment of a strong farming and ranching economy that fostered a steady population growth among current colonists and attracted many migrants from Europe in search of inexpensive land.
Industrialized societies greatly benefited from the importation of new crops from the Western Hemisphere, including potatoes, maize, and manioc. These quickly became staple crops that allowed European populations to expand during times of conflict and innovation. French commoners were able to thrive and expand their population during the French Revolution by growing potatoes because they were disease resistant and were unaffected when the French Army tried to burn above-ground crops. In addition, maize and potatoes supported the quickly-growing population of England during the Industrial Revolution. The introduction of wheat, rice, and barley as well as horses, pigs, and cattle into North America allowed for the establishment of a strong farming and ranching economy that fostered a steady population growth among current colonists and attracted many migrants from Europe in search of inexpensive land.