prior to 1750 and the onset of industrial revolution, very little economic growth occurred in the world. what marks the beginning of the industrial revolution? part 2 a. when eli whitney invented the cotton gin, textile production increased world-wide. b. adding mechanical power to the production process increased the quantity of goods each worker could produce. c. the newly-discovered spice trade routes opened up new markets for goods and increased demand for them. d. the smelting of iron ore increased the use of durable, metal tools which made farming more productive.