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Britain relied on coal to build the great British Empire where the sun never set.

Updated: Jun 5

The Rise of Britain - The Choice of Coal and the Establishment of the "Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets"

The Emergence of the Industrial Revolution


Coal, derived from ancient plant remains, transforms into a combustible solid mineral through high temperature and pressure underground.


Compared to oil and natural gas, coal has been widely discovered and utilized throughout human history.

Watt's improved steam engine was initially applied in the textile industry.


In Europe, Britain was the first country to use coal on a large scale.


However, during the Middle Ages, coal was only minimally used for domestic purposes and almost not at all for production.

This changed in the 16th century, mainly due to a shortage of wood supply.


With its abundant coal resources, Britain became the primary solution to the wood shortage.


However, the increased demand for coal led to new problems, especially with drainage as mines went deeper.


To solve this issue, various drainage machinery was invented, eventually leading to the invention of the steam engine, a particularly notable development in Britain.

The emergence of the steam engine marked a new stage in the coal industry.


In the latter half of the 18th century, Watt's improved steam engine further propelled the development of the Industrial Revolution, providing the power source for the rapid rise of capitalist industry.


And all of this was still driven by coal.

The Power of the Industrial Revolution


The widespread use of the steam engine freed humanity from the long-standing limitations of human, water, and wind power.


Industries such as steel manufacturing, transportation, and textiles rapidly developed, making the Industrial Revolution possible.


The development of the iron and steel industry was particularly important as it formed the basis of heavy industry.


However, at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the iron and steel industry was not well developed due to the lack of cheap and practical fuel.


The invention of the coking process for iron smelting made large-scale production of cheap iron possible.

The application of steam power further advanced the iron and steel industry.


The steam engine not only solved the power problem but also improved the efficiency of coal utilization, further driving the development of the iron and steel industry.


The increase in coal production also stimulated the development of the coal mining industry.


Britain became one of the world's largest coal-producing countries.


Compared to previous energy sources, coal provided more energy to humanity, allowing factories to be established wherever energy was needed, no longer limited to coal-producing areas.


This further propelled the development of industrial production.

The Victory of the Industrial Revolution


The power of the Industrial Revolution was not only reflected in the economy and technology but also in the military.


Britain, leveraging the achievements of the Industrial Revolution, rapidly rose in military strength, becoming the "Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets."


The success of the Industrial Revolution also surpassed Eastern civilizations.


The emergence of steam engines and ironclad ships gave the British navy unprecedented advantages.


British ironclad steamships were not only fast and maneuverable but could also navigate freely along coasts and inland rivers.


The victory of the Industrial Revolution marked the triumph of modern industrial civilization over ancient agricultural empires.

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