What are the features of proto-industrialization?

Proto-industrialization refers to the phase preceding the full-scale Industrial Revolution, characterized by a shift from agrarian economies to more market-oriented production systems. Key features include the rise of cottage industries, where rural families engaged in small-scale manufacturing, often producing goods for distant markets. It also involved the separation of production from direct agricultural work, increased rural entrepreneurship, and the establishment of networks for trade and labor. This period laid the groundwork for industrialization by fostering technological innovation and changing social structures.