Part 5/14:
The Realization of Progress: The Industrial Revolution
Progress building on Bacon’s ideals materialized over the subsequent centuries, culminating in the Industrial Revolution. This era brought unprecedented technological advances: Newton’s theories in physics, breakthroughs in chemistry, mass production techniques, and innovations such as the steam engine, electricity, and chemical manufacturing.
By the 19th century, these advancements dramatically transformed society. Inventions like the telegraph, light bulb, and internal combustion engine reshaped daily life, validating the optimistic view that progress was not only possible but inevitable. Progress seemed to be a self-reinforcing cycle—each invention and discovery fueled further innovation.