Final answer:
There was an increased need for labor in the 1400s due to the Black Death and the subsequent legislation to control wages and labor. Technological innovations led to improved productivity and the rise of factories, necessitating more workers. The Agricultural Revolution rendered surplus farm laborers, who were then utilized in developing industries, paving the way for the industrial revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the 1400s, the need for labor arose substantially, driven by several key factors. The aftermath of the Black Death in Europe necessitated policies to stabilize the workforce, such as laws to maintain pre-plague wage levels and requirements for able-bodied individuals to work. This period saw shifts in labor due to technological advancements that improved productivity, like the introduction of water mills and the steam engine, prompting the rise of factory work and urban migration.
Additionally, the Agricultural Revolution in the mid-1600s meant fewer farmers were needed to produce food surpluses, thus releasing laborers to seek other forms of work. This shift was characterized by the development of cottage industries, where farm families would produce goods for an entrepreneur, resulting in a transformation towards industrial production.
Throughout the 1700s, British entrepreneurs capitalized on this available labor, setting up factories that mass-produced goods. These changes led to the displacement of laborers from their lands and a shift wherein they had to sell their labor for a wage—a sharp turn from feudal relationships—and crucially, marked the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution.