The early view of the industrial revolution often regarded coal as the protagonist. Those who have received similar attention are cotton, steel, iron and railways, and except for cotton, all other items rely on coal.
Western Europe population and economic growth in the "long 16th century" and the 18th century (especially the second half of the 18th century), led to large-scale deforestation in forests in a short period of time, making the forest coverage rate and per capita wood supply in Western Europe lower than that of China, which is densely populated, and even less than that of India. Deforestation also brings other problems, with archaeological evidence from France and Germany showing that the 18th century was one of the two most severe soil erosion in history.
Forest deforestation is severe, the ecology is deteriorating, and the price of wood has risen, resulting in an increase in production costs and the value of coal is gradually emerging. In fact, since 1500, most of the demand for coal in England has been for household heating. The reason for using coal is that it is cheap, although it will bring about the serious disadvantage of thick smoke. All industries from winemaking to glass manufacturing to iron making cannot withstand the pollution caused by thick smoke. It was not until a series of new inventions in the 18th century came out to solve this problem that the situation improved.
Fortunately, several of the top coal deposits in Europe are located in areas with many good prospects: the United Kingdom. This brings them close to perfect water transportation, close to the strongest commercial economy in Europe, and the region has many skilled craftsmen, and is not far from a society that encountered a serious firewood shortage in 1600 or even earlier; and the severe firewood shortage makes it more urgent to solve the problem of coal acquisition and use.
Professional technology is indispensable for the development of European coal industry. It is just that the advent of expertise depends on long experience (and many failures along the way), as well as cheap and large-scale coal supply. This experience is achieved thanks to the three factors of skilled craftsmen, consumers in need and coal mines themselves that are concentrated in one place and close to each other.
This article is edited and compiled from "Da Diversion"
