"The Age of Machines"
Starting in Britain in the late 18th century, humanity shifted from handmade tools to steam-powered machinery. James Watt's improved Steam Engine powered textile factories, trains, and ships. Productivity skyrocketed, and the world shrank due to faster travel.
Society was transformed. People flocked from farms to dirty, crowded cities. A new working class (proletariat) and owning class (bourgeoisie) emerged. While it created unprecedented wealth and standard of living increases, it also brought child labor, pollution, and harsh working conditions, sparking labor movements and Marxism.