Population Growth and Cottage Industry (637-645)

Early on, the section refers primarily to Europe in general. As the 18th century began, population began to grow as a result of better conditions. Filth was generall removed and diets improved with new agricultural developments. Although population had increased only gradually between teh 10th and 17th centuries for the most part, it began to explode in the 1700's. England, like other countries, began to see its population double every 40 years, as opposed to the 70 to 100 years that had preceded it.

With this larger increase in population, England took the lead in beginning small-scale, home-based industry. As more people crowded the fields, each person had less land provided for them, leading to the necessity of another form of income. The result was the putting-out system, which began in England. Merchants would bring raw materials to rural industrial workers, who would in turn spin or weave the thread, selling it back to the merchant. England's system was crucial in forming the basis for the industrial revolution on a large-scale later on.