#7 How a technology has changed over time in response to societal challenges?

The Industrial Revolution in the mid to late 1800s introduced a mechanized means for man to travel over great distances. Before the railroad, man relied on horses and oxen to move materials and themselves over great distances. Once railroads came into widespread use, human civilization exponentially spread over larger areas of the earth. Agricultural areas that were inaccessible suddenly were able to transport their commodities to markets. Resources like wood and coal were suddenly plentiful. The Information Age is a direct result of the Industrial Revolution, and that revolution occurred largely because of locomotive power on railroads.

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