<human>:  Describe what the industrial revolution was
<bot>: The Industrial Revolution was a period of rapid economic and social change that took place in Europe and North America during the late 18th and 19th centuries. It is marked by the widespread replacement of manual labor with new industrial technology, such as mechanized factories and the use of steam power. During this period, new business practices, such as the factory system and the development of modern transportation systems, increased economic productivity and created entirely new social classes. The Industrial Revolution also marked the beginnings of new cultural norms and labor practices that would continue to shape the modern world.