What period of rapid technological advancement began with the innovation of steam power?

The Industrial Revolution marks a significant period of rapid technological advancement that began in the late 18th century, primarily fueled by innovations in steam power. This era fundamentally transformed industries and economies, shifting from agrarian societies to industrialized urban centers. The advent of steam power enabled more efficient production processes, leading to the establishment of factories and the mechanization of labor. Innovations such as the steam engine revolutionized transportation and manufacturing, allowing for the creation of railways and improved machinery, which greatly enhanced productivity and created new economic opportunities.

The other periods mentioned—Renaissance, Enlightenment, and Victorian Era—while important in their own rights—do not specifically represent the same level of technological transformation initiated by steam power that characterizes the Industrial Revolution. The Renaissance focused more on art, culture, and humanism, the Enlightenment emphasized reason and intellectual discourse, and the Victorian Era is notable for its societal changes and aspects of British imperialism rather than the technological breakthroughs that defined the earlier Industrial Revolution.