400 A BRIEF SURVEY OF HUMAN HISTORY

human civilisation had its birth in England in the eighteenth
century. That movement is usually referred to as the
Industrial Revolution. Though of late some writers have
criticised the use of the term "Revolution" as being too
misleading, no more suggestive or comprehensively adequate
expression has been found. Equally misleading is it to
suggest that the Industrial Revolution began in a parti-
cular year or even decade. But considering that the several
important things which gave it its peculiar character occurred
all together in a crowded fifty years or so, it would not be
wrong to assign the genesis of this great movement to the
latter half of the eighteenth century. That was also the
period of other momentous happenings such as the Seven
Years* War, the War of American Independence, and the
French Revolution.

While all wars are expensive and disastrous in their con-
sequences, England has enjoyed certain peculiar advantages
on account of her geographical situation. The immunity
from foreign invasion which she has enjoyed through several
centuries, and her naval supremacy, have alike enabled her
to develop her political and economic life along her own
lines, undisturbed by any external power. On the other
hand, she has found it especially possible for her to strike
at all her enemies without being hurt to the same extent.
Thus she was able to destroy the power of France in the
series of wars which ended with Waterloo. Whereas these
wars disorganised) the entire economic life of the Continent,
they afforded a unique opportunity to English commerce
and industry which flourished despite the Berlin Decrees
and the Continental System! of Napoleon. It was this rare
stimulus which quickened the pace of English industry to
such an extent, towards the close of the eighteenth century,
that it almost looked1 like a revolution. In the words of