The Industrial Revolution refers to the broad spectrum of profound social and economic transformations that surrounded the development of modern forms of industry, beginning in Great Britain in the late 18th century and spreading to other parts of the world throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. This period was marked by significant technological innovations, particularly the invention of new machines and the use of new energy sources like steam power, which led to the rise of factory-based production and a shift from agrarian-based economies to those dominated by manufacturing and industry. The Industrial Revolution had far-reaching consequences, leading to urbanisation, the growth of new social classes, changes in family structures, and significant alterations in people's daily lives and ways of working. It laid the foundation for modern industrial societies and continues to shape the world today through ongoing technological advancements and their social and economic impacts.