Final answer:
The author's view of the progress made in the 1700s is negative, focusing on the negative impact on peasants and enslaved persons.
Step-by-step explanation:
The author's view of the progress made in the 1700s, based on the provided excerpt, is negative. The author argues that the shift towards industrial production during this time period was driven by the pursuit of profits for the upper classes, rather than the betterment of society as a whole.
For example, the author highlights the negative impact on peasants who were forced off their land and made to live in squalor in urban slums, working long hours under harsh conditions. The author also mentions the suffering endured by enslaved persons who were treated as property and subjected to brutal conditions.
In contrast, the author mentions the desire of European consumers for luxury goods, suggesting that progress was only seen from a Western perspective and prioritized the needs of the affluent.