the medieval period, Birmingham grew to
international prominence in the 18th century at the heart of the Midlands
Enlightenment and subsequent Industrial Revolution, which saw the town at the
forefront of worldwide advances in science, technology and economic
development, producing a series of innovations that laid many of the
foundations of modern industrial society. By 1791 it was being hailed as
"the first manufacturing town in the world". Birmingham's distinctive
economic profile, with thousands of small workshops practising a wide variety
of specialised and highly skilled trades, encouraged exceptional levels of
creativity and innovation and provided a diverse and resilient economic base
for industrial prosperity that was to last into the final quarter of the 20th
century. Its resulting high level of social mobility also fostered a culture of
broad-based political radicalism, that under leaders from Thomas Attwood to
Joseph Chamberlain was to give it a political influence unparalleled in Britain
outside London, and a pivotal role in the development of British democracy.
Today Birmingham's economy is dominated by the service sector. The city is a
major international commercial centre, ranked as a beta− world city by the
Globalization and World Cities Research Network; and an important transport,
retail, events and conference hub. Its metropolitan economy is the second
largest in the United Kingdom with a GDP of $114.3bn (2012 est., PPP), and its six
universities make it the largest centre of higher education in the country
outside London. Birmingham's major cultural institutions – including the City
of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Birmingham Royal Ballet, the Birmingham
Repertory Theatre, the Library of Birmingham and the Barber Institute of Fine
Arts – enjoy international reputations, and the city has vibrant and
influential grassroots art, music, literary and culinary scenes.