The main technology that drove the Industrial Revolution was the steam engine. Innovated by James Watt in the late 18th century, the steam engine allowed for the efficient conversion of heat energy into mechanical work. This breakthrough facilitated advancements in transportation, such as steamships and locomotives, enabling rapid movement of goods and people. The steam engine also revolutionized manufacturing processes, leading to the growth of factories that could produce goods at unprecedented scales. With its ability to power machinery, the steam engine played a central role in shifting economies from agrarian-based practices to industrialized production, fundamentally changing society, labor, and economic structures worldwide.