Until the 18th century, technology generally remained tied to agriculture. But at that point change occurred rapidly with the acceptance of new ideas and approaches in technology that would play key roles in the transition to the Industrial Revolution. Beginning in the early modern era, the number of works that focused on machines and technological subjects proliferated in Europe, emphasizing such subjects as weapon-making, iron working, metallurgy, etc. In addition, the spirit of rational inquiry that fueled the Scientific Revolution in the 16th and 17th centuries found practical application in the proliferation of technology that began to emerge in the 18th century. The old medieval practice of separating science and technology disappeared as the new approach was one of cooperation and collaboration between the two fields. The struggle took place in the 17th century between those seeking a grip on the old ways and the visionaries of the future. The latter would win. It became increasingly apparent that nature could be understood and manipulated, a realization that spurred a belief that change was positive and encouraged technical experimentation.
The growing number of scientific studies had the effect of focusing increased attention on the manufacturing field. Moreover, the growth of scientific societies across Europe joined in discussion and debate, those persons who conducted research on the theoretical aspects of technology with individuals such as merchants and manufacturers who had more interest in practical applications, solutions to specific technical problems, and the financial rewards that might be gained. For example, chemists married their discoveries with manufacturers who sought a better glaze coating for their pottery pieces. Likewise, studies in the properties of gases actually led to 17th century developments such as Otto von Guericke dabbling with the properties of atmospheric pressure and the first extremely primitive steam engine by Denis Papin—one designed to use water vapor to drive a piston in a cylinder. At the same time, other scientists advanced the idea that steam power might propel a boat. Thus, economic necessity stimulated innovation and invention and converted older techniques to more modern ones which could be utilized to build successful commercial enterprises. Indeed, even failed inventions often had the asymmetrical result of stimulating different inventions, even perhaps in unrelated fields. As a result, by the 18th century, technological advancements proved capable of solving heretofore perplexing problems in the two important industries of mining and cloth production, setting the stage for the acceleration of industrial development.6
World History
