Preindustriális

Preindustriális, or preindustrial, refers to economies and societies organized around agriculture and handicraft production before widespread mechanization. In Europe this typically covers the period preceding and during the early Industrial Revolution, roughly from late medieval times to the 18th century, though regional variation was common. The defining feature is a predominance of farming and cottage industry rather than large-scale factories.

Economic structure and daily life: Most people worked in farming or in small-scale crafts within households or local workshops. Production often relied on family labor, informal networks, and guilds. Energy came from human and animal muscle, with wind and water power used where available. Productivity rose slowly, and market integration remained limited compared with industrial economies.

Technology and infrastructure: Tools were largely manual; simple machinery existed, but extensive mechanization was rare. Urban centers existed but were smaller, and transport depended on roads, rivers, and canals. Energy and material flows were local or regional rather than globally interconnected.

Transition and legacy: Proto-industrialization and the putting-out system began linking rural production to urban demand in some regions during the 17th–18th centuries, foreshadowing industrial change. The shift to factory-based production, new energy sources, and expanded markets transformed labor and society, marking the move beyond the preindustrial era. The timeline of preindustrial conditions varies by region.