the United Kingdom’s economic primacy during the 19th century were already open. By 1700 the United Kingdom derived about 75% of its energy from coal—while in France and Germany coal became the dominant fuel only during the second half of the 19th century, and China began to derive more than half of its primary energy from fossil fuels (mostly from coal) only after 1970
did not realize how much of a head start UK had with the industrial revolution
