章 77: Flow of the Era (5)

30 years ago from now.

Britain accounted for 47% of world steel production with about 7 million tons of steel.

They produced 120 million tons of coal annually and that overwhelming production capacity and price competitiveness had the power to make even America, which had sufficient technical capability, import industrial infrastructure and railways.

Britain, possessing iron and coal that form the foundation of modern civilization, didn't stop there.

With the power of advanced civilization, they produced half the world's military ships by displacement and expanded their colonial empire faster than anyone.

Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaya, New Zealand, Burma, Ceylon, Egypt, Australia, Canada, Ireland, India - each concession and colony was a pillar of the British Empire.

Would you believe that the British Empire, a single country (including colonies), accounted for one-fourth of the world's Gross Domestic Product (GDP)?