The technological advances achieved by the British Empire, particularly compared to contemporary societies, were undoubtedly decisive in imperial expansion. Scientific inventions and their subsequent inclusion into the British cogs of military power and political administration were evident throughout the 18th and 19th Centuries, allowing for more efficient methods of exploration, travel, conquest, and even communication. The innovative spark that sustained the empire was staggering. It was also not solely due to England being home to the oldest and most comprehensive university system in the world at the time. Francis Ronalds, the father of the electrical telegraph, and Thomas Savery, a key forerunner in the development of steam engines, were …show more content…
The ability of British forces and resources to travel quickly was key in imperial expansion. Ships and trains, both powered by the steam engine, provided this, as they could carry very heavy loads over long distances much faster and more reliably than their wind-reliant predecessors. These somewhat artificially powered vehicles made it much easier for Britain to conquer and industrialize larger areas of colonial interest such as India and Africa. While ships and trains may be given credit for their role in transportation throughout the British empire, the steam engine is what made them so efficient. The invention of the modern steam engine in 1812 by Thomas Newcomen was critical to the success and extent of colonial expedition, as it revolutionized physical energy production through the use of steam pressure. This new energy could then be used to power trains, ships, and even factories. Although it would later be improved to become more efficient, the steam engine was instrumental in the rapid expansion of the British Empire across the …show more content…
This innovation, highlighted by Daniel Headrick as a key tool of imperialism, allowed for the abandonment of primitive guns, which behaved and worked similar to a small cannon (Headrick pgs. 231-63). See the This made guns a much more viable option in combat, as there was no longer a need for the antiquated and lengthy loading process of a musket or flintlock pistol. The introduction of rifled barrels also increased the efficiency and accuracy of firearms. By carving spiralling grooves throughout the barrel of a gun, the projectile could be spun, increasing its speed and giving it a straighter path. This technique has been adopted in nearly every modern firearm today, as it dramatically improves the accuracy and velocity of projectiles. The most obvious example of British technological superiority was in its navy. Innovations in maritime navigation were instrumental in facilitating long-distance voyages, which allowed access to faraway lands and opportunities. The development of the compass by the Chinese, which was later refined by the British, reduced the need for coastal navigation, and increased the accuracy of many
Another piece of weaponry that the U.S had made their own version of was the cannons. The cannon was first used in 1861 at Fort Sumter in the U.S Civil War. These were a major upgrade in weaponry as it could help take out big crowds of men and helped so men wouldn’t have to be on the front lines and risk getting killed. Also battles seemed to get quicker because of its strength, but it had some downsides too. These downsides including very bad injuries to the men, also more men would be killed in battles, and finally a lot of cities were destroyed because of it.
As he was wandering through Glasgow Green he struck upon an idea that would revolutionize the steam engine. This idea was "that in order to make the best use of the steam it was necessary that first, that the cylinder should always remain as hot as the steam which entered it; secondly that when the steam was condensed, the water of which it is composed, and injection itself, should be cooled down to a 100 degrees, or lower where it is possible." This method did not work at first, but in 1765 he discovered "that if a communication were opened between a cylinder containing steam and another vessel, which was exhausted of air and other fluids, the steam, as an elastic fluid would immediately rush into the empty vessel, and continue to do so until it had established an equilibrium. If that vessel were kept dry and cool by an injection, or otherwise, more steam would continue to enter until the whole was condensed." He fixed the problem of water and air coming out of the exhausted vessel by adding a pump to extract both air and water. This is Watt's great contribution to the Newcome steam engine which would now run faster, cleaner, safer, and more economically efficient. This made the steam engine a useful economical source of power which for over a hundred years stayed exactly the same without alteration.
Wars have been around for centuries. A typical battle was fought on land. The infantry would line up and fire at the advancing enemy. World War I was first called "the Great War" because of the number of lives lost (Coetzee 11). There were approximately nine million deaths over the course of the four years the war lasted (11). World War I began because of the assassination of "Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne" (17). Tensions were high and war seemed the only solution (17). The alliances in Europe were well formed by the time 1914 arrived (17). "The Central Powers" were "Germany and Austria-Hungary" (Westwell 8). "The Triple Entente" were "Britain, France, and Russia" (8). All of the countries and citizens believed in the cause of the war from the very beginning (9). That enthusiasm would quickly change once the introduction of new weapons and strategies were revealed (9). Every country involved was seeking ways to improve on the resources they needed to fight, and hopefully win the war. None of the countries involved wanted the other side to have a military advantage over the other (7). World War I had technological inventions such as machine guns, poison gas, tanks and submarines, which changed the strategy of war. The outcome of these inventions resulted in more death and destruction than previous wars.
The steam engine was an innovative new way to produce power. In 1698 British inventor and engineer Thomas Savery obtained the first patent on the steam engine. In 1769 James Watt patented an improved version of the steam engine. In 1782 James Watt developed the double-acting steam engine. The double-acting steam engine doubled the steam engine’s output. The double-acting steam engine was quickly adopted by the people working on the first steamboat. The creation of the steam engine allowed the extraordinary idea of a steamboat to become rea...
New technology is arriving every day. The greatest invention during this time was the steam engine. The creation of the steam engine was credited to James Watt. There had been other steam engines before James Watt’s, but none of them were efficient. Watt’s engine was the first efficient engine that could be used in a factory.
In many ways, the Victorians owe their remarkable place in history to the unique and successful exploitation of new technologies, the steamship, the railway and the electric telegraph. Her industrial advancement such as the mining of coal, minerals and other raw materials and the production of iron, textiles and manufactured goods allowed Britain to participate in large and a rapidly growing worldwide market.
According to World History From 1500 by J. Michael Allen and James B. Allen, the Industrial Revolution could not have happened without a new, reliable source of power (144). The steam engine became such a source. Before the steam engine all industries used manpower, horsepower, and the power of water and wind to drive the machines. All these means were not efficient and practical enough to satisfy the rising needs for energy – the solution – steam engine.
Thomas Savery invented the first steam engine in 1698. People like Thomas Newcome, James Watt, and Richard Arkwright kept improving the machine over many many many years. Arkwright built the first steam-powered textile plant in 1790. The steam engine used steam to power engines and make them run, like in boats and trains. James Watt steam engine became dominant design for modern steam engines. It also helped bring about the Industrial Revolution.
The British quickly moved to the forefront of the industrial revolution due to their investment in the coal and iron industries. England was also at the forefront of modern banking due to the large amounts of profit from commerce that the British experienced. In addition to the steam engine, some of the most notable British inventions in the late eighteenth century were the new spinning machines that revolutionized the textile industry. As a result of the technological advances of the steam engine and cotton machines, increasing amount of steel, coal and iron were now needed to fuel the new machines largely in use by the beginning of the nineteenth century. The various im...
During the late 1800s, Great Britain flourished. It was a time of innovation and progress, directed by the leadership of Queen Victoria. Her limited political power allowed Victoria to have a tremendous positive effect on the British Empire. She helped spread and popularize new technology by using it herself and supporting it financially. She used her limited power to avoid conflicts and wars and was seen as a relatable figure due to her middle class values.
First vehicles powered by the steam engine started to appear in the early 1800s. Various machines started slowly replace horses. It was especially true for the jobs that required a lot of power. Transportation, of course, was the first and the most beneficial adopter. Goods could be carried across large distances with relative ease. No wonder that farmers were also eager to adopt engines. By that time most of the work was done using horses and basic tools.
The Steam Engine “In the never-ending search for energy sources, the invention of the steam engine changed the face of the earth.” (Siegel, Preface) The steam engine was the principal power source during the British Industrial Revolution in the 18th century. The steam engine opened a whole new world for everyone. The steam engine maximizes production, efficiency, reliability, minimizes time, the amount of labor, and the usage of animals.
The first notable positive effect of the empire is industrialization. The British having been ahead in industrial evolution helped spread technology to new places around the world. Particularly, the British Empire was responsible for the development of early industries in their colonies (Balasubramanyam & Wei, 79). They built industries in the colonies such as sugar factories, cotton factories and tobacco industries. Certainly, this was a new development in these colonies that later led to the colonies mechanizing their cottage industri...
The duo of inventors, Thomas Savery and Thomas Newcomen were both based in Britain, thus, this was the place where the inventions were first used giving Britain the time advantage over other countries.
Great Britain’s imperialism and colonization of the majority of the world allowed the nation to gain access to a variety of natural resources, and increased revenue through taxes. It also greatly increased trade, as Great Britain opened up trade paths, and took control of many trade industries which greatly boosted the economy. With a stronger economy and increased money flow, there was an increase in consumer goods which was benefited by the fact that families had more money to spend on goods. In addition, there were higher wages, which was an incentive for people to innovate and join the workforce. The economy also experienced an increase with the rapid population growth of the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries, which led to a larger work force, allowing the innovations of the Industrial Revolution to become major manufacturing tools and to create factories and assembly lines. This imperialism, and thus boosted economy led directly to the Industrial Revolution, and allowed Great Britain to develop more