AP Modern World History Flashcards: Technology of the Industrial Age
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 11 cards to help you master important concepts.
What was the 'fossil fuels revolution'?
A period where the development of machines like steam engines made it possible to exploit energy from fossil fuels (coal and oil), greatly increasing the energy available to human societies.
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What was the 'fossil fuels revolution'?
A period where the development of machines like steam engines made it possible to exploit energy from fossil fuels (coal and oil), greatly increasing the energy available to human societies.
Define the 'second industrial revolution'.
It was a period in the second half of the 19th century that led to new methods in the production of steel, chemicals, electricity, and precision machinery.
What was the primary effect of developing machines like the steam engine and internal combustion engine?
These machines made it possible to exploit the vast energy resources stored in fossil fuels, such as coal and oil.
A 19th-century entrepreneur uses a steamship to transport goods up a river that was previously unnavigable. What broader historical trend does this represent?
This represents how new technologies like steamships made development and trade possible in previously inaccessible interior regions globally.
What was the relationship between new machines and available energy in the Industrial Age?
The development of new machines allowed human societies to exploit fossil fuels, which greatly increased the total energy available for production and transport.
What were the two key fossil fuels that powered the Industrial Age?
The two key fossil fuels mentioned as energy sources were coal and oil.
What was the overarching impact of technology on economic production during this era?
Technology, through new machines and energy sources, fundamentally shaped and increased the scale of economic production over time.
Name three transportation or communication technologies that enabled global development in this period.
Railroads, steamships, and the telegraph were key technologies that made exploration, development, and communication possible in interior regions globally.
What were the key industries advanced by the 'second industrial revolution'?
The key industries that saw new production methods were steel, chemicals, electricity, and precision machinery.
How did railroads and steamships affect global trade and migration?
They made exploration and development of interior regions possible, which in turn led to increased global trade and migration.
What was the role of the telegraph in the Industrial Age?
The telegraph made communication possible in interior regions globally, which facilitated exploration, development, and trade.