Knoweth thyself and thine audience: how ideological reforms led to the industrial revolution and demonstrated the changed relationship between suppliers and consumers

Abstract

The Industrial Revolution encompassed great change in the lifestyles of individuals. As the hierarchal layout of society started to lose its influence, the opportunities for lower classes to change their lives and positions in their communities grew. Starting in Western Europe, society became more open to this change in persuasive rhetoric and welcomed new inventions and innovations to technologies. The resulting economic boom was due to inventors using marketing tactics, such as better knowledge of consumers’ preferences. Competition, motivated by pursuit of profits, among rival producers, resulted in more products and services that bettered the lives of everyone. This paper portrays the world before, during, and after the Industrial Revolution to examine the causes and effects of this influential time period.