Peculiarities of Evolution of Machine Technology and Its Industrialization in Italy during 19th Century

Yibing Fang,Marco Ceccarelli

doi:10.4236/ahs.2015.44024

Abstract

This paper deals with peculiarities of Italian Industrial Revolution on machinery by looking at aspects on enterprise developments and university frames. The outline showed a historical evolution that started in South Italy and after national reunification strong development was experienced mainly in North Italy with the still today character of few big enterprises and several small-medium companies. Examples are discussed with emblematic figures from University frames and cases of study on typical enterprises of the time. The Italian peculiarities are due both to political situations connected to Italy reunification and Italian attitudes to Science and Technology as combined with a strong individualism and creativity.

Highlights

The evolution of Italian frames during the Industrial Revolution looks to be more complex than in other European countries for the heavy cultural backgrounds from the past but mainly for the intriguing situations due to the history of nation re-unification in those years and the influences of the other European nations from several perspectives
The second perspective can be focused on the industrial developments of machinery in Italy in 19th century, since during this period the technology capacity of machine production is evolved up to an industrial character that can give a picture of the early industrial revolution in Italy
Those peculiarities are discussed in this paper through few emblematic examples that give a clear illustration of specific character of Italian Industrial Revolution

Summary

Introduction

The evolution of Italian frames during the Industrial Revolution looks to be more complex than in other European countries for the heavy cultural backgrounds from the past but mainly for the intriguing situations due to the history of nation re-unification in those years and the influences of the other European nations from several perspectives. The second perspective can be focused on the industrial developments of machinery in Italy in 19th century, since during this period the technology capacity of machine production is evolved up to an industrial character that can give a picture of the early industrial revolution in Italy Those peculiarities are discussed in this paper through few emblematic examples that give a clear illustration of specific character of Italian Industrial Revolution. As regarding with the professional frame, the three figures of Giuseppe Antonio Borgnis (1781-1863), Giuseppe Colombo (1836-1921), and Lorenzo Allievi (1856-1941) are presented with their different contributions in the different periods during the process of development of machine technology and engineering knowledge in Italy The analysis of their activities and results can show the different conditions and situations within which the formation of the engineer community of Italian machine technology and its success have evolved in 19th century. Italian industrialization up to the complex developments of the Italian successful machinery industry

A Brief Note on General Conditions

The Italian Scientific Community on Machine Technology and Engineering

Giuseppe Antonio Borgnis

Giuseppe Colombo

Lorenzo Allievi

Remarks

Italian Machine Industrialization in 19th Century

The Start of Italian Industrialization in the Two Sicilies Kingdom

The Rise of Mechanical Engineering Giants in the North

Small-Medium Mechanical Enterprises in the North Italy

Findings

Conclusion