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Age of Invention Timeline
- The Age of Invention began around 1600 and spans through the 1850s and beyond, covering the era of Shakespeare to early industrialisation.
- It includes a major shift to coal usage and urban growth, notably London's rise as the world's largest city by 1868.
Patent System Evolution
- Early patent systems in Britain were royal privileges often requiring court influence, unlike the modern accessible patent system established in the 19th century.
- The 1852 reform made patenting cheaper and easier, causing an explosion of registrations and democratization of invention.
Coal’s Impact on Agriculture
- The availability of coal freed up land for agriculture, boosting food and animal feed production, enabling mechanisation powered by animals.
- This agriculturally boosted economy supported larger people and horses in England, a unique sign of improved living standards.