Hobsbawm, Industry And Empire Flashcards
How does Hobsbawm describe industrialisation?
Not merely an acceleration of growth, but an acceleration of growth because of, and mediated through economic and social transformation
What does Hobsbawn believe the manufacturing focus should be on?
In order to industrialise there needs to be a focus on development qualitative means of production
(Link to landes)
Why is it misleading to perceive the industrial revolution through on entirely British terms?
Although Britain was the first to industrialise, the country formed part of a wider world economy of European maritime states.
Not only this, but the advanced, urbanised states were heavily linked to dependent colonial economies for their exporting of agricultural products and raw materials
Why does Hobsbawm dismiss climatic, geographical, biological and other exogenous theories which attempt to explain Britain’s industrialisation?
None of these factors operate on their own, but within a given economic, social and institutional framework
Why were Britain able to overcome obstacles which would have otherwise prevented industrialisation?
1) By 1775 there was no longer a land holding peasantry, allowing the transfer of men from non industrial to industrial pursuits
2) the industrial revolution only required a class of men with ordinary literacy and familiarity with simple mechanical devices, rather than any technical specialism. The centuries since 1500 had prepared the work force for this
- *this does not mean that Britain didn’t experience obstacles, more so that they were easy to overcome because the fundamental social and economic conditions for it already existed *
- link to griffin, a strong agricultural base is an essential ingredient of the industrialisation process
E.g Britons’ familiarity with basic farming mechanisms meant that much of society was compatible with the new technical age of industrialisation
