The Industrial Revolution: When Geniuses Forged the Future

The Industrial Revolution was one of the greatest transformative moments in history; revolutionizing the way humans worked; how they ordered their societies and how they thought about their lives all over the world. But was it really a happy coincidence that a handful of geniuses unleashed the fruits of their inventiveness on a grateful nation at roughly the same time? And if so why did it happen in Britain as opposed to France or Germany or even the United States? Told with an international perspective; Professor Jeremy Black explores how a unique international position allowed 19th century Britain to become the richest; most powerful nation on earth and to set in motion the changes that soon swept over the planet.