preindustriaalsest

Preindustriaalsest refers to the conditions and way of life in societies prior to industrialization. While the exact dating varies by region, it typically encompasses agrarian economies in which most production depended on human labor and animal power, basic tools, and manual crafts rather than machine production. In such economies, most people lived in rural communities and worked in farming, with urban centers existing mainly as markets or hubs for specialized crafts. Energy sources were primarily biomass and water or wind for mills; transportation relied on horses, carts, rivers, and seas.

Craft production commonly took place in households or small workshops; production was often organized around guilds or traditional hierarchies, and exchange occurred through local or regional markets rather than global supply chains. Land tenure, social hierarchy, and gender roles shaped daily life and economic opportunity. Life expectancy and living standards varied widely, but uncertainty, periodic famines, and periodic cycles of harvestability were common features.

The transition to an industrial economy, starting in Europe in the late 18th century, involved mechanization, new sources of energy (steam, then coal and later oil), improvements in iron and textile production, and the expansion of transportation networks. These changes fostered urbanization, changes in labor relations, increased productivity, and integration into global markets, redefining production and society. Today the term 'preindustrial' is used comparatively to discuss historical development, regional differences, and the dynamics that preceded modern industrial societies.