Theme T23 · World History

Industrial Revolution and its spread: England, Japan, railways

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What UPSC asks

UPSC asks why the Industrial Revolution began in England, life of workers then vs India today, Japan's 'latecomer' path, and the effects of railways worldwide.

Prepare these

• Reasons for England's lead: capital, colonies, coal and iron, agricultural revolution, inventions
• Social effects: urban slums, child labour, labour laws
• Japan's state-led model after Meiji
• Railways' socio-economic effects in different countries

Answer writing

• Comparisons work best as point-by-point contrasts

Directive words in these PYQs: Bring out (1), Discuss (1), Compare (1), Why (1), Analyse (1).

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Syllabus lines covered

• GS1-L5 — History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.- their forms and effect on the society.

All 3 PYQs, newest first

1. GS1202310 marks · 150 wordsGS1-WH-01-M2023-Q03

   Bring out the socio-economic effects of the introduction of railways in different countries of the world.

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2. GS12015GS1-WH-01-M2015-S01

   Why did the industrial revolution first occur in England? Discuss the quality of life of the people there during the industrialization. How does it compare with that in India at present?

   Also needs: T10 Colonial economy: drain, deindustrialisation, famines, economic policyCopyReport a typo
3. GS12013GS1-WH-01-M2013-S01

   “‘Latecomer’ Industrial Revolution in Japan involved certain factors that were markedly different from what West had experienced.” Analyze.

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