Essential Question

How did the environmental factors contribute to the global economy between 1750 and 1900?

Technological Developments

Railroads: Railroads were a major technological development that greatly improved transportation and facilitated the movement of goods across long distances. They allowed for faster and more efficient transportation of raw materials to factories and finished goods to ports for export. The building of transcontinental railroads in countries such as the United States and Canada also helped to open up new markets and territories for trade and investment.

Telegraph: facilitated communication and trade. It allowed for instant communication over long distances, making it possible to coordinate trade and investment more efficiently. The expansion of telegraph networks across the world greatly improved the flow of information and facilitated the growth of export economies.

Steamships: played a significant role in the growth of export economies by increasing the speed and efficiency of international trade. They made it possible to transport goods across the oceans faster and more cheaply than ever before, which greatly expanded the reach of international trade.

Agricultural Developments

Mechanization: The mechanization of agriculture through the use of new tools and machinery, such as threshing machines, reaping machines, and plows, greatly increased productivity and efficiency on farms. This led to increased output and exports of agricultural goods, such as grains and livestock.

Crop Varieties: the introduction of new crop varieties, such as the "Green Revolution" crops, greatly increased yields. This led to increased food production and exports, particularly in developing countries.

Enclosure Movement: involved the consolidation of small, fragmented plots of land into larger, more efficient farms, which also contributed to the growth of export economies. This allowed for the more efficient use of resources and the expansion of commercial agriculture, which led to increased exports of agricultural goods.

Infrastructure

the improvement of transportation infrastructure, such as the building of railroads and steamships, greatly facilitated the transport of agricultural goods to markets, both domestic and foreign. This increased the reach of exports and opened up new opportunities for trade.

Overall, these agricultural developments greatly increased productivity and output, facilitated the transport of goods, and opened up new markets for export, contributing to the growth of export economies during this time period.

Raw Materials (Exports)

cotton: one of the most important raw materials for export during this time period. The mechanization of cotton production, through the invention of the power loom and the spinning jenny, led to a rapid increase in the production of cotton textiles. This increased the demand for raw cotton, which was grown primarily in the United States and India, and was exported to other countries for use in their textile industries.

rubber: another important raw material for export. The demand for rubber increased with the invention of the pneumatic tire and the expansion of transportation infrastructure, such as railroads and steamships. Rubber was mainly produced in South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia, and exported to other countries for use in manufacturing. Both in Brazil and the Congo, indigenous populations were brutally enslaved in order to extract rubber from native trees. However, the increasing demand for rubber because of bicycles and automobiles far outweighed what could be sourced from these places and eventually land was cleared in South and Southeast Asia to build rubber plantations.

palm oil: a significant raw material for export. It was used in the production of soaps, candles, and lubricants and was mainly produced in West Africa and Southeast Asia. European imperialists established plantations for palm oil in Malaysia and the Dutch East Indies.

copper and tin: Copper was in high demand for use in the manufacturing of various goods such as wire, pipes, and electrical equipment. Copper mines were operated in many countries such as Chile, U.S, Canada and Spain, and the copper ore was exported to other countries for use in their manufacturing industries. Tin was also an important raw material for export, particularly for the production of tinplate, which was used to make cans, and other tin products. Tin mines were mainly operated in countries like Malaya, Bolivia, and Indonesia, and the tin ore was exported to other countries for use in their manufacturing industries. The extraction of copper and tin also led to environmental degradation and the displacement of local communities and the exploitation of their labor. The commercial extraction of these raw materials was also a driving force behind the colonization of many regions around the world.

ivory, minerals, and diamonds: Ivory was highly valued for its use in the production of decorative items, such as ivory carvings and sculptures. It was mainly obtained from elephants in Africa and Asia and was exported to other countries for use in their manufacturing industries. The commercial extraction of ivory led to the hunting of elephants to the brink of extinction.

Minerals such as gold and diamonds were also significant raw materials for export. Gold was highly valued for its use in jewelry, coinage, and other decorative items. Diamonds were mainly used for the same purpose, but also for industrial use. These minerals were mainly extracted in Africa, mainly in the colonies of European powers. The mining of these minerals led to the displacement of local communities and the exploitation of their labor. Cecil Rhodes became an important factor in the diamond mining industry as he acquired some of the De Beers Mining Company, which accounts for 90% of the world's diamond production.

The commercial extraction of these raw materials also led to the colonization of many regions around the world as European powers sought to exploit the resources of their colonies to fuel their industries and support their economies. This led to the loss of sovereignty and cultural heritage for many colonized people.

Global Consequences of Industrialization

One of the most significant positive consequences was the growth and development of export economies. The industrialization brought about by new technologies and innovations led to increased productivity and efficiency, which resulted in the mass production of goods and increased exports. This led to economic growth and prosperity in many countries.

However, industrialization also had negative consequences, particularly for the environment and for people living in colonies and other areas where raw materials were extracted for commercial use. The increased demand for raw materials led to the overexploitation of natural resources, resulting in deforestation, soil erosion, and other environmental degradation. The extraction of these resources also often resulted in the displacement of local communities and the exploitation of their labor. Farmers were only allowed to use their land for cash crops, which also resulted in monocultures, or the lack of agricultural diversity.

The commercial extraction of raw materials also led to the colonization of many regions around the world, as European powers sought to exploit the resources of their colonies to fuel their industries and support their economies. This led to the loss of sovereignty and cultural heritage for many colonized people.