The factory system replaced the earlier cottage industry as the main method of production.

It was characterized by the use of machinery, a centralized workplace, and a division of labor.

Work was no longer done at home but in a purpose-built factory.

The nature of work shifted from the seasonal, task-oriented rhythms of agriculture to the rigid, time-oriented discipline of the factory clock.

Workers performed repetitive tasks as part of a larger production process, leading to a loss of traditional craft skills.

Working conditions in early factories were often harsh, with long hours, low wages, and a high risk of injury.

Factories employed large numbers of women and children, who were often paid less than men.

The factory system led to the creation of a new urban working class (the proletariat).

It separated the place of work from the home, fundamentally changing family life.

This new system created immense wealth for factory owners but often led to difficult lives for the workers.