AND ON THE CONTINENT.

19

CHAPTER II.

The Development of Centralisation in the English Cotton

Industry .

I.—The Origin of the Factory System.

India, the ancient seat of trade, is also tlie home of the cottonindustry. Alexander the Great found, even in his time, the nativesclothed in cotton garments. Indian woven goods have been fromancient times imported into Europe as articles of luxury. TheArabians brought many trades and arts, including the cottonindustry, to Europe . Wherever they pushed their way theygrew the cotton plant; especially did its culture flourish on all thecoasts of the Mediterranean. Spain and Sicily spun and wovecotton in the 11th and 12th centuries.

When, in later times, the economical point of importance inEurope advanced north of the Alps , it was followed by the cottonindustry. Flemish and German towns became its seat. England,at that time depending solely upon agriculture and its products,was not the place for an industry of luxury, as the cotton tradewas at that time. It required, as essentials, trade, and consumerswho had become rich by trade. Venice was the cotton market ofthe world—the Liverpool of those days; Antwerp the seat ofmanufacturing—the Manchester of that period.

As was often similarly the case, foreign immigrants also laidthe foundation of the English cotton industry—refugees whosought a home in England after the destruction of Antwerp byAlba, in 1585. Many of them settled in Manchester and Bolton,which towns were at that time the seat of woollen weaving.Foreign weavers were particularly attracted to Manchester bythe permission to fell wood for building and burning, as theywished, in the College woods situated in the vicinity of the city—