The Importance of an Industrial Revolution

Throughout history and even into today those nations that are economically most successful are those that were the first to have successful Industrial Revolutions, and the same can be seen when playing the game Civilization IV. Today the most succesful nations economically are the United States, England, France and China, all of which had successful and powerful industrial revolutions that are almost always quickly expanding and growing. In the same way, those nations within the game that are continuously developing new technologies and expanding production are those that are most succesful due to their increased wealth and better tools for fighting in wars and growing food. Essentially, an industrial revolution is completely necessary for a nation that intends to be one of the most succesful, whether in war, food growth or trade.

As Heilbroner explains in chapter four of The Making of Economic Society, "the third essential source of economic wealth is industry," a statement that could not be more true. All of the top powers in the world were able to achieve and maintain that status initially because they could produce more food, later more goods, and therefore more economic wealth. As seen in the game the quicker technologies expand the more money you will have and the more success you will have in wars and trade, making you a powerful ruler that other nations will not attempt to destroy. Although it took nations a long time to develop the monetary stability and cultural status to be ready for an industrial revolution once it happened it was incredibly powerful and changed the nations forever. England had the first Industrial Revolution, with Arkwright's spinning jenny, and the english pound is still one of the most valuable currencies in the world, showing the importance and significance that having the first industrial revolution allowed this nation.

When a nation has an industrial revolution it allos a "transformation of an essentially commercial and agricultural society into one in which industrial mmanufacture became the dominant mode of organizing economic life." (Heilbroner ch. 4) This allowed for the creation of cities as we know the today and a largely increased sense of production. Ultimately, by having an Industrial Revolution a nation "ushers in a rise of living standards on a mass scale unlike anything that the world had ever known." (Heilbroner ch. 4) Even the poor could benefit from this revolution because many new jobs opened up for them and the prices of goods went down because they were now being mass produced by machines instead of produced by hands, reducing the time it took significantly. Therefore, within the game it is always a good idea to have an industrial revolution if the option is presented, and developing technology becomes increasingly important as the game progresses and other nations do so. If a nation falls too far behind technologically it will become inferior and ultimately run out of money or be conquered.

In conclusion, an industrial revolution is necessary for any nation that wishes to be economically successful. In addition, an industrial revolution will help a nation not only economically but also in war through new technologies and in food production. Therefore, by having an industrial revolution the standard of living is garunteed to increase for all people, even if some may benefit more than others. The only time that this will not hold true is when "a country's population is growin even faster than its incresed output." (Heilbroner ch. 4) In the end, the best way to advance a nation is to allow for an industrial revolution, and this truth holds both in the game and in the real world.