This book attempts a broad, thematic and unique interpretation of Europe's industrial development from the 17th to the 20th century reflecting the results of the most recent research in the field. It regards Europe as a single entity and places her experiences in a broad, global context by showing how Europe's overseas interests and activities encouraged industrial expansion in Europe but discouraged the same elsewhere. No break is made for the Industrial Revolution. It therefore provides an interpretation of European industrialization which is based on continuous rather than revolutionary change.