Overview
The industrial boom of the 1700's is called the Industrial Revolution. It began in Britain during the 1700's, and started spreading to other parts of Europe and to North America in the early 1800's. The Industrial Revolution changed the Western world from a basically rural and agricultural society to a basically urban and industrial society. Industrialization brought many material benefits, but it also created a large number of problems that still remain critical in the modern world, including air and water pollution.