Second Industrial Revolution: electricity, chemistry, and connected systems

The central question

Why does an invention need a whole system around it?

What we will explore

• Steel and industrial chemistry; generators, motors, and an electricity network
• Transport, refrigeration, telegraph/telephone, public health, and changes in the city and home
• Europe, Meiji Japan, Qing China and colonial India: industry, military capacity and technological learning

By the end of the lecture

Explain why a useful invention often needs an entire system of production, infrastructure, and maintenance.

Read the lecture

A continuous, illustrated reading of Lecture 7, with explanations, historical examples, and review answers.

Lecture slides

The complete 64-slide presentation, including review answers and reference material.