By the end of Big Era Seven, which spanned from 1750 to 1900, industrial societies were characterized by the following features:
Mass production: Large quantities of goods were produced in factories, resulting in the mass distribution of goods.
Urbanization: People moved from rural areas to cities in search of work in factories.
Division of labor: Work became more specialized, with workers performing a specific task in a larger production process.
Technological innovation: There were significant advancements in technology, including steam engines and electricity, which transformed the way people lived and worked.
Interconnectedness: The world became more interconnected through trade and the spread of technology, which led to increased economic growth.
To qualify as an industrial society, a country would need to have a high level of industrialization, characterized by the features listed above. Industrialization typically involved a shift from an agricultural-based economy to a manufacturing-based economy, where factories and machines played a central role in production.
If living in 1900, the decision to live in a big industrial city or in a village in the countryside would depend on personal preferences and circumstances. Some advantages of living in a big industrial city may have included access to more job opportunities, higher wages, and access to cultural amenities such as theaters and museums. However, living conditions in industrial cities could also be harsh, with overcrowding, pollution, and poor sanitation leading to health problems. On the other hand, living in a village in the countryside may have offered a simpler way of life with cleaner air, closer proximity to nature, and a stronger sense of community. However, job opportunities may have been limited and wages lower than in industrial cities.
In summary, the features of industrial societies as of Big Era Seven’s end were mass production, urbanization, division of labor, technological innovation, and interconnectedness. To qualify as an industrial society, a country would need to have a high level of industrialization. Living in an industrial city or in a village in the countryside had advantages and disadvantages that depended on personal preferences and circumstances.