Final answer:
The Industrial Revolution, starting around 1750, marks the period when great technological advances were made and when pollution first became a significant environmental concern.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Industrial Revolution period in history, significant technological strides were made, and pollution began to emerge as a pressing environmental problem. The transformative changes introduced during the late 18th and early 19th centuries brought on by advancements in agriculture, metallurgy, and steam power led to an increase in the standard of living and urbanization in Europe and the United States. However, these changes were accompanied by environmental degradation, with the rampant burning of fossil fuels like coal contributing to air and water pollution. This was the era when the darkening of moths, known as 'industrial melanism,' became a noted example of evolutionary change due to pollution. This period laid the groundwork for the ever-increasing concern for the environment, which has since evolved into a global movement addressing various issues such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, and land degradation.