The Industrial Revolution was the most important era in history. The Industrial Revolution began in the late 1700’s and ended in the late 1800’s. There were many inventions produced in this period of time, such as the steam engine. Although many world changing inventions were made, a lot of people were made poor, very few were made rich, and children were put into labor.

The Industrial Revolution started around the 18^th centuryand ended around the 19^thcentury. England used steam and coal to power their inventions and the U.S. utilized the power of gas and oil. Machines were manufactured in big houses, warehouses and factories.

The inventions of the industrial revolution changed history. Some inventions made during the industrial revolution are still used today! One of the smartest people around at the time was a man named Thomas Newcomen. Thomas invented the first steam engine in 1712. Then, in 1770 an invention called the Spinning Jeremy arrived. The Spinning Jeremy made the production of clothes much faster.  Another helpful machine was the Cotton Gin, invented by Eli Whitney in 1788. The Cotton Gin made and strung cotton.

Although inventions like the Cotton Gin produced cotton much faster than by hand, machines were very dangerous. Dyes used for clothes were very poisonous and workers could get their hands stuck in the machines. Kids were dying often in cotton factories. So, in attempt to stop the deaths, Lord Ashley passed the Factory Act in 1833. The Factory Act stated that kids under 9 could not work, children 9-13 could not work for more than 9 hours a day and kids 13-18 couldn’t work for more than 12 hours a day.

For most of the workers in the industrial revolution their day was, wake up, eat breakfast, go to work for 12 hours a day, eat dinner, then go to sleep. They were paid 3 pence a hour which is like $7 a hour in today’s currency. The ratio of rich people to poor people was 1:5 which means that 20% were rich and 80% were poor.

The industrial revolution changed peoples’ lives forever. In fact we still use some of the same inventions that were used in the industrial revolution. The industrial revolution changed people’s lives forever. To sum up the essay, the industrial revolution formed the world we have today.

Have you ever heard of the Bastille? The Bastille is one of the world’s best symbols of order and chaos.

The Bastille had many rumors and stories. You may be wondering what stories or rumors there were? Well, for starters a rumor spread that there were tons of prisoners. It was said to have dungeons where tortures happened on the prisoners beyond unimaginable and unspeakable ways, and it was said that it was used to test weapons on the prisoners. But the truth was that most of these rumors weren’t truths. At best there were only some partial truths.

The Bastille was built during the 14th century. It had many different purposes including being a fortress against the English soldiers who moved to try and take over Paris during the 100 years war. The building had 5-foot thick walls, drawbridges, a moat, and 8 towers. It was mostly used as a prison of different types. Louis XIV used the Bastille as a prison for upper-class prisoners in the 1400’s. Other Kings used the Bastille to imprison other threats to their rule. Over the years, it was known as a symbol of the government’s tyrany.

In addition to being a prison, the Bastille served other purposes, but most people did not like it other uses and often feared that it could be used against them.  This was especially true during the start of the French Revolutionary War.  During this time, the Bastille was used to store gunpowder. However, the rumors said that tons of prisoners were being held here by the King. This was not true; there were only 7 prisoners (4 of who were insane).  The Bastille did have 114 soldiers and guards that were mostly used to protect the weapons (including gunpowder, guns, and cannons) and the building itself.

Now you might be thinking in your head, “Why should I give a fig about the Bastille?” Well, here’s why. The Bastille showed the first and most famous show of violence in the French revolution. The common people of the 3rd Estate knew it as the symbol of tyranny, and wanted to take it from the King’s control.  Rioters had grown in large numbers due to lack of food and poor conditions. They learned that the gunpowder (I mentioned it earlier) that was being stored inside the Bastille. They were convinced that the King was going to use the Bastille as a way to get rid of the riots and mobs. The people could see cannons in the windows pointing at the town and thought that this was going to be used against them. The rioters ordered the governor of the Bastille, Launay, to take the cannons out of the windows and give them control of the Bastille. Launay took the cannons away, but he refused to give up the Bastille.

Now you might have noticed I said that the Bastille HAD several drawbridges or HAD 8 stone towers. Well I use had the thence because the Bastille was destroyed. Now in your head you might be thinking, “How the heck was it destroyed?” On July 14th , 1789 a mob broke into the Bastille. They set the 7 captives free, and took the guards as prisoners. The mob grabbed the Governor Launay and one other defender. They killed the two men and their heads were cut off and paraded around town on a giant stick.

The people hated the Bastille so much that they burnt it down and after that they tore it down brick by brick. After they tore it down they sold the bricks as souvenirs. In one day, the Bastille went from tyranny and control to the chaos of an out of control mob.

If you wondering what life was like in Athens here’s how it was. If you are afraid of heights then this was not the place for you. Its location was built on a steep cliff for an easy defense for shooting opposers coming up.

If you don’t like olives , grapes , peas and, beans Then you would not like the grown food.

If you are a boy you wore an tunic called a Chiton if you are a girl you wore the same thing except that it went down to the ankles.Your shoes were leather sandals and boots.

If you ever wonder what a house in Athens was made of (notice the Parton is not a house it was a temple built to Athena ). Your house would be made of mud bricks and had a cotta roofs.

The type of government was that everyone was allowed to vote by writing it down on a piece of pottery or you would say yes or no using . If you/someone thought that you/someone had done a crime on you/them you/they could drag you to a rich man/women and he/she would choose that persons fate ( later juries would do that job).

Do you want to fight in the navy?( If you want to join the army that’s the strongest go join Sparta)Well if yes then you would have a good job because sea is where they were strongest.

Where to get money in Athens? Well you would get your money because your city was the capital of trading.You would be proud to say that you lived in athens because your city-state made some of the greatest architectural achievements ever( unless you only like to destroy things all day no affiance demolition experts).

If you say acting is outdated then watch your mouth in Athens because they were the one who invented theater. Also if you ever herd of  Philosophy you would hear about it in Athens Philosophy questions were like this one. “Why are there people?”. Plays were so important you could see captives because they were allowed to watch (Still if you say plays are overrated then you should leave Athens if you lived there).

Ever wonder who invented the rake, the flute, the pot, the yoke, ship improvements, the chariot, the trumpet, and the plow? The city-state your reading about right now!!

You do get not as many subjects as regular but your were taught writing, PE, and music.

I never knew that Crete was one big islanad

that’s where the Labyrinth is.

History, Geography, and Civics/Mock Trial posts go here…

Real-World History (research and write your own history); Biographies;
History Timelines; Great Cities-Great Ideas: Maps, Models of Cities/Buildings (SketchUp), MindMaps (Inspiration) of Ideas That Last.
Combined History-Science Projects (Great Inventions Diagrams/Reports, Interviews: Effect of Technology on 3 Generations, History of San Diego, etc.),
Mock Trial Presentations (video or text): Opening Statement, Cross Examination Closing Statement, etc.