Final answer:
Liverpool and Manchester were key to the Industrial Revolution due to their roles as major hubs for textile production and their extensive canal systems, which facilitated trade and transportation. Textile mills in these cities were powered initially by water wheels and later by steam engines. Liverpool's port opened access to global markets and raw materials, playing a critical role in industrial growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
Liverpool and Manchester were key to the Industrial Revolution for several reasons, corresponding with option b and c from the options given. Both cities were major hubs for textile production, a leading industry during the Industrial Revolution, with mechanized factories powered by water wheels and later by steam engines, which were significant advancements of the time.
Moreover, the port city of Liverpool provided crucial access to international markets and raw materials needed for the textile mills through its extensive colonial empire. Manchester, often known as the world's first industrialized city, was at the forefront of industrialization in England.
It combined labor, raw materials, and industry connections, which were essential for manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution. Additionally, both Manchester and Liverpool benefited from extensive canal systems, improving transportation and facilitating trade.
While the first iron bridge was built in central England, not in Liverpool or Manchester, Great Britain's natural resources like coal were indispensable for the steam engines that drove the industrial machinery during that era.
The steam engine, developed by James Watt, allowed factories to be located near urban centers, driving the growth of these cities. Political and cultural factors, including a parliament that valued free trade and a banking system that supported enterprise, also contributed to the prominence of British cities in the Industrial Revolution.