First Industrial Revolution (jan 1, 1768 – jan 1, 1780)

Description:

Immediate Effects:
- Development of technology allowing for faster and more efficient production and transportation.
- Larger and more densely packed cities, which lead to reforms to improve living conditions.
- Development of the middle class.

This was the most important event of the 18th century because it introduced technology that allowed Europeans to focus more on ideologies and leisure than work. This period also improved technology for war, which made World War I a very different war than any war before it, which lead to many other events spanning the 20th century.