Industrialization in France and Germany between 1750 and 1850 developed later and more gradually than in Britain, but it transformed their economic and social structures. Both countries experienced the spread of mechanized production, growth of industries, development of transport and expansion of markets. However, their paths differed because of political divisions, availability of resources, agricultural conditions and the pace of economic reforms. In France, the foundations of industrialization were laid during the eighteenth century. Before 1789, France possessed important manufacturing centres producing textiles, iron, glass, and luxury goods. Lyon was famous for silk, while other regions developed woollen and cotton industries. However, much production remained organized through small workshops and domestic manufacturing rather than large factories. The French Revolution of 1789 disrupted traditional economic institutions by abolishing feudal privileges and guild restrictions. It encouraged greater freedom of enterprise and facilitated the development of a more modern market economy. During the early nineteenth century, industrial growth accelerated. The textile industry expanded, particularly cotton production, with centres developing around Alsace, Normandy and northern France. The iron and coal industries also expanded, although France lacked the abundant and easily accessible