The theme of this module focuses primarily upon British industrialisation between 1640 and 1842. Understanding this process is one of the most controversial and hotly contested topics in history. What were the origins of the British Industrial Revolution? Was it simply driven by a distinct set of national characteristics – most notably Protestantism, the embracing of Newtonian science, and an entrepreneurial spirit, as some cultural and economic historians argue? Conversely is the explanation more mundane. Were there a unique set of institutional features vital to British industrialisation – most notably the work of State bodies and a national policy of economic regulation? What role did foreign trade and the colonies play? Was it crucial or simply of secondary importance? This module demonstrates the complexity and contingency of British industrialisation by situating it fully in the global world. Finally, did the withdrawal of State regulation and the emergence of free trade during the nineteenth century have a more negative than positive impact upon British industrialisation?