What are the causes of the Industrial Revolution?

The Industrial Revolution gradually came about because of the radical new ideas and innovations from the Agricultural, Commercial, and Scientific Revolutions, that inspired the new revolution in Britain. The Commercial Revolution promoted entrepreneurialism, and larger, overseas markets with whom Britain could trade. The Agricultural Revolution brought about new methods in farming and cultivation, along with a surplus of food and people, which provided a generous labor supply. The Scientific Revolution started a new way of thinking about the universe through emperecism, which invoked a spirit of curiosity and inventiveness in people.

The Commercial Revolution, which began in the 15th century, encouraged entrepreneurialism which stimulated capitalism, and created bigger, more profitable trade routes overseas. Inspired by the Renaissance idea of humanism, which promoted human achievement, merchants were now self-confidant and a new class of commercial entrepreneurs erupted. Later in the 17th century as the Scientific Revolution popularized the idea that the world is a knowable place, people were confidant that they could prosper on their own, and therefore Britain was full of entrepreneurs out to make money. Before the Industrial Revolution, Adam Smith wrote The Wealth of Nations in 1776, which encouraged individual accomplishment as well. The entrepreneurs took advantage of the trade routes' expanding. Because of the Agricultural Revolution, the population in Britain was growing and getting wealthier, and thus demanded more and better goods. Commercial expansion was supported by technical improvements in nautical exploration from the Age of Exploration, and from about 1450, voyages were made to Africa, Asia and the New World. This allowed for the Industrial Revolution to happen because there were many markets that the revolution could use and take advantage of. Markets grew bigger and more secure, and people were ready to make money thus by 1700, the stage was set for the Industrial Revolution.

The Agricultural Revolution, beginning in the 16th century, radically changed the way of farming and cultivation and supplied Britain with an abundance of food and people. Influenced by the Scientific Revolution, landowners in the 17th century began to partake in scientific farming, by practicing new methods and growing new crops. The British countryside was transformed between 1760 and 1830 as the open-field system of cultivation gave way to compact farms and enclosed fields. This new system of enclosure made farming more systematic and therefore more efficient. However, enclosures also sent people off the countryside and into cities, which is also good because there were more workers for the factories in the Industrial Revolution. Also, new farming techniques improved the cultivation of certain crops. ''Turnip'' Townshend was famous for his cultivation of turnips and clover on his estate in England. He introduced the four-course rotation with these crops: wheat, turnips, barley, and clover. Innovations in farming methods led to more productive farms, and generated more food. A surplus of food sets off a chain reaction of healthier people, then more people, so there are more workers, so there is cheaper labor, and thus more money for more markets.