Who coined the term proto-industrialization?
Franklin Mendels coined the term in his 1969 doctoral dissertation on the rural linen industry in 18th-century Flanders and popularized it in a 1972 article based on that work.
Questions about Proto-industrialization
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What did proto-industrialization theory claim caused the Industrial Revolution?
Proto-industrialization theory argued that rural handicraft production for external markets was the main cause of economic and demographic growth in Europe and a direct precursor to the Industrial Revolution. Mendels contended the process accumulated the labor, capital, and entrepreneurial skill that industrialization required.
How did proto-industrialization affect population growth in Switzerland?
Swiss proto-industrialization allowed young people to establish independent households without agricultural land, which drove up marriage rates and population growth. The effect was especially pronounced during the cotton industry boom of 1740-1785.
What share of Dutch imports did Bengal account for under the Mughal Empire?
The Bengal Subah alone accounted for 40% of Dutch imports from outside Europe. The region was a major exporter of silk, cotton textiles, steel, saltpeter, and other goods.
How did iron production in Song China compare to later European output?
Historian Robert Hartwell estimated that per capita iron output in Song China rose sixfold between 806 and 1078. He also estimated that China's overall industrial output in 1080 was comparable to Europe's output in 1700.
What are the main criticisms of proto-industrialization theory?
Martin Daunton argued the theory excludes too much, particularly town-based industries and rural operations like mines, mills, and forges. Empirical studies also found that proto-industrialization sometimes led to de-industrialization rather than factory production, undermining the theory's core causal claim.