What invention is considered to have triggered the first Industrial Revolution?

The steam engine

The steam engine, perfected by James Watt in the late 18th century, is often cited as the catalyst for the first Industrial Revolution. By transforming how energy was produced and used, this invention enabled mass production in sectors such as textiles and transport, radically changing societies and economies. The impact of the steam engine extended well beyond factories, as it also powered the first railways and steamboats, revolutionizing the transportation of goods and people around the world.