They were the center of the industrial revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a historical process started in England in the 18th century, mainly, being commonly associated with the beginning of the capitalist mode of production. This revolution consisted primarily in the development of new techniques for the production of goods, with a new technology, and in a new form of social division of labor.
The foundations of the Industrial Revolution lie in the shift from craft corporations in the Middle Ages to manufacturing in manufacturing. In craft corporations, artisans individually held their tools and raw materials, working under the supervision of a master craftsman. In manufacturing, these master craftsmen came to own the means of production, transforming the other craftsmen into salaried workers.