During the 1700's and 1800's, the spread of power-driven machinery helped bring about a rapid growth of industry in Britain. Large factories replaced homes and small workshops as manufacturing centers. These events marked the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. By the mid-1800's, industrialization had become widespread in western Europe and the northeastern United States. Such countries as Russia and Japan also began to develop their industries.<NP> The Industrial Revolution transformed human life more dramatically than any other change since the development of agriculture. Before the Industrial Revolution, most Europeans lived in farm areas. But as factories appeared, towns grew into industrial cities and people streamed into the cities to take factory jobs. The Industrial Revolution also led to a huge increase in the production of goods.
