The major event that marked the beginning of the Industrial Revolution was the mechanization of the textile industry, particularly with the invention of the spinning jenny, developed by James Hargreaves in 1764. This period saw a shift from agrarian economies to industrialized ones, beginning in Great Britain and later spreading globally. Innovations in manufacturing processes, steam power, and transportation significantly improved production efficiency and economic growth. The Industrial Revolution transformed society by altering labor systems, urbanization patterns, and social structures, laying the groundwork for modern economies.