简介：ProfessorJeremyBlackexaminesoneofthemostextraordinaryperiodsinBritishhistory:theIndustrialRevolution.Heexplainstheuniqueeconomic,socialandpoliticalconditionsthatbythe19thcentury,ledtoBritainbecomingtherichest,mostpowerfulnationonEarth.HetracestheunprecedentedexplosionofnewideasandtechnologicalinventionsthattransformedBritain'sagriculturalsocietyintoanincreasinglyindustrialandurbanisedone.Healsodiscussesthereasonsbehindthistransformation;fromBritain'scoalreserves,whichgaveitaseeminglyinexhaustiblesourceofpower,totheascendencyofpoliticalliberalism,withengineersandindustrialistsabletomeetandshareideasandinventions.ProfessorBlackexplainstheinfluencethatgeniuseslikeJosiahWedgewoodhadontheconsumerrevolutionandtravelstoAntiguatoexaminetheimpactBritain'sempirehadonthisextraordinaryperiodofgrowth.…