The industrial Revolution has shaped the societies we live in today and more so in Britain and in Southern Africa. It brought about not only changes in technology, but also changes in the social structures of societies, manufacturing, transport and agriculture.
This lesson will focus on the changes that occurred during the Industrial Revolution in Britain, and the beginning of the Industrial revolution in Southern Africa which took place due to the discovery of diamonds and the mining thereof, as well as the increasing interest of Britain in Southern Africa.
A section will be dedicated to the focus on the slave trade, the economy of the Industrial Revolution, the social changes that took place during the Industrial Revolution, the increase in the power and wealth of Britain as well as the economies of Western European countries.
The next section will discuss the state of Southern Africa by 1860, as well as indentured labourers from India working in Natal.
In the last section, diamond mining will be explored which occurred from 1867 onwards, the takeover of Griqualand West, the development of a monopoly as well as the creation of De Beers Consolidated Mining.
The Industrial Revolution took place from the 18th to 19th centuries, and it was a period during which mainly agrarian/ rural societies in Britain became industrial and urban. Before the Industrial Revolution took place, manufacturing was often done in people’s homes, using hand tools or basic manual machines. Industrialization marked a shift to powered, specialised machinery, factories and mass production. While industrialization brought about an increased volume and variety of manufactured goods and an improved standard of living for some, it also resulted in often grim employment and living conditions for the poor and working classes.
This lesson will provide an overview of the changes that took place during the Industrial Revolution in Britain, the state of Southern Africa by 1860’s, and diamond mining in Kimberley from 1867 onwards, as required according to the CAPS Curriculum