During the industrial revolution there was a spectacular increase in population, mainly due to the fall in the death rate caused by the improvement of hygienic, sanitary and food conditions that was largely reflected in the reduction of infant mortality. In this period, the first vaccinations are born and the sewage and wastewater treatment systems are improved. A more abundant and regular diet, not subject to fluctuations in crops, lowered the incidence of epidemics and made possible the almost complete disappearance of catastrophic mortality, especially infant mortality.
These scientific advances, added to the new job opportunities offered by the big cities, produced an unprecedented movement of people. These people from the countryside moved en masse to the big cities.
Because of the increase in job opportunities, people left to go into the city to find work. They eventually got overpopulated, leading to increases in disease and terrible living conditions.
I feel like “The voyages were risky, and there was no insurance to cover the risk” is the answer. Investors didn’t want to lose money and the only way that they would somehow break even on the cost would be if the voyage found riches.
