Final answer:
The Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain, fueled by advancements in power-driven machinery that transformed labor and societal structures. Russia's response, including the emancipation of serfs by Tsar Alexander II, was less effective in spurring industrialization. According to Jan Luiten van Zanden, factors such as slavery, demographics, and global trade played key roles in the revolution's success.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Industrial Revolution was a period characterized by the introduction of power-driven machinery and major economic and social transformations. It began in Great Britain in the late 18th century and rapidly spread to the United States, Germany, and beyond, drastically altering labor practices and societal structures. This period also saw varying responses from different global powers, with some nations embracing the changes and others attempting to control or delay their impact.
In Russia, the government was primarily monarchical and agricultural, struggling to keep up with industrial advancement. Tsar Alexander II's decision to emancipate the serfs in 1861 was a significant step towards modernization, but the change was not enough to catalyze a full-scale industrial revolution in the nation. Consequently, while there was an increase in trade and some improvement in the peasantry's circumstances, Russia remained largely agrarian and unindustrialized as the 19th century ended.