The development of the steam engine was an essential early element of the industrial revolution; however, for most of the period of the Industrial revolution, the majority of industries still relied on wind and water power as well as horse and man power for driving small machines.
Uendelezaji wa injini ya mvuke ulikuwa kipengele muhimu cha awali cha mapinduzi ya viwanda; hata hivyo, kwa muda mwingi wa kipindi cha mapinduzi ya Viwanda, viwanda vingi bado vilitegemea nguvu za upepo na maji pamoja na nguvu za farasi na watu kwa kuendesha mashine ndogo.