history: The Age of Revolution

All of these movements were, in many ways, set into motion by the Renaissance. Ideas of humanism lead to the renewal of democratic governments, and the rebirth of higher learning lead to advancements in technology that changed the rest of human history.

One of the first major revolutions was in the area of agriculture. Machines began to be able to do the work of large numbers of people in the fields and therefore quickly became popular. Soon other industries began to employ machines and the Industrial age began.

Soon, cities grew up around factories, and factory work became a way of life.

With the factories there grew a need for laws about labor.

The other kind of revolution common in the 17th and 18th centuries involved laws. The successful American Revolution and the creation of the American Constitution began to change the political structure of the world.