The Coming of the Railway - A New Global History, 1750-1850

The first global history of the epic early days of the iron railwayRailways, in simple wooden or stone form, have existed since prehistory. But from the 1750s onward the introduction of iron rails led to a dramatic technological evolution-one that would truly change the world.In this rich new history, David Gwyn tells the neglected story of the early iron railway from a global perspective. Driven by a combination of ruthless enterprise, brilliant experimenters, and international cooperation, railway construction began to expand across the world with astonishing rapidity. From Britain to Australia, Russia to America, railways would bind together cities, nations, and entire continents. Rail was a tool of industry and empire as well as, eventually, passenger transport, and developments in technology occurred at breakneck speed-even if the first locomotive in America could muster only 6 mph.The Coming of the Railway explores these fascinating developments, documenting the early railway's outsize social, political, and economic impact-carving out the shape of the global economy as we know it today.

Product details

• Authors: David Gwyn, Gwyn David
• Publisher: Yale University Press Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 01.05.2023
• EAN: 9780300267891
• ISBN: 978-0-300-26789-1
• No. of pages: 384
• Dimensions: 160 mm x 240 mm x 36 mm
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Economic History, HISTORY / World, TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING / History, TRANSPORTATION / Railroads / General, c 1800 to c 1900, 19th century, c 1800 to c 1899, General & world history, Economic history, 18th century, c 1700 to c 1799, History of engineering and technology, General and world history, History of engineering & technology, Trains & railways: general interest, Trains and railways: general interest, C 1700 To C 1800