CBSE · Class 10 · Social Science · History: The Making of a Global WorldHow did technology, particularly refrigerated ships, influence the global trade of food in the late 19th century?

Technology played a crucial role in the expansion of the global agricultural economy in the late nineteenth century. Key technological inventions like railways, steamships, and the telegraph transformed trade. A major example was the development of refrigerated ships, which enabled the transport of perishable foods, especially meat, over long distances. Earlier, live animals were shipped from America, Australia, or New Zealand to Europe, where they were slaughtered. This took up a lot of space, and many animals died or fell ill during the voyage, making meat an expensive luxury in Europe. Refrigerated ships allowed animals to be slaughtered at the starting point and then transported as frozen meat. This reduced shipping costs, lowered meat prices in Europe, and enabled the poor to consume a more varied diet including meat and butter.