What was a significant technological advancement during the Industrial Revolution?

The steam engine stands out as a significant technological advancement during the Industrial Revolution due to its transformative impact on various industries and transportation. Invented in its more efficient forms in the 18th century by figures like James Watt, the steam engine enabled the widespread use of steam power in manufacturing, leading to increased production speeds and efficiency. This advancement facilitated the growth of industries such as textiles and iron, and it was instrumental in the expansion of railways and maritime transport.

As a result, the steam engine revolutionized not only the economy by boosting productivity but also society by improving transportation and communication networks, making goods and services more accessible. Its role in powering factories and locomotives played a key part in the shift from agrarian economies to industrialized societies, laying the groundwork for modern economic structures. Other options, while significant in their own contexts, came after the steam engine's major influence during the Industrial Revolution.