The Industrial revolution can be considered a turning point in World History because of the way it changed European and American economies.
The Industrial Revolution saw the development of new technologies and innovations that allowed for the mass production of goods. Along with this, the Industrial Revolution resulted in the need for unskilled laborer. This changed the economies of numerous countries by straying away from small local shops in which artisans made goods by hand to an economy based on the mass production of goods that could be sold to individuals on a national and international basis. After the Industrial Revolution, many economies would be focused on expanding their national and international markets. This was a complete change from the economies of the 16th and 17th centuries.