The Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain in the late 18th century.

Britain's unique combination of natural resources, capital, labor, and innovation allowed it to industrialize first.

From Britain, industrialization spread to continental Europe and North America.

Belgium was one of the first continental countries to industrialize, followed by France and the German states.

The United States became a major industrial power in the late 19th century, aided by its vast natural resources and growing population.

Japan, after the Meiji Restoration of 1868, became the first non-Western country to successfully industrialize.

The spread of industrial technology was often facilitated by the migration of skilled workers and entrepreneurs from Britain.

Industrialization created a new global division of labor, with industrialized nations producing manufactured goods and non-industrialized nations providing raw materials.

This dynamic fueled the 'New Imperialism' of the late 19th century, as industrial powers sought colonies for resources and markets.

The industrial revolution was a global phenomenon that fundamentally reshaped the world economy and the balance of global power.