The impact of the steam engine on the Industrial Revolution was profound, fundamentally transforming industries and society. Invented by James Watt in the late 18th century, the steam engine facilitated mechanization in manufacturing, leading to increased productivity and economic growth. Its ability to power machinery, locomotives, and steamships revolutionized transportation and trade, allowing goods to be produced and distributed more efficiently. The steam engine not only accelerated urbanization as people flocked to cities for work but also significantly altered social structures and labor dynamics, paving the way for modern industrialized societies.