Baltic iron and the British Industrial Revolution

What is it about?

The eighteenth century is often seen as an age of triumph for the British iron industry. In fact, it was mostly an age of frustration. Only at the every end of the century did British ironmasters put together a completely coal-fired production and thereby free themselves from energy constraints. Before then, British consumers of iron were heavily dependent on imported iron from Sweden and Russia.

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Why is it important?

This papers draws attention to the importance of imported raw materials in British industrialization. It suggest that British industrial development was heavily dependent upon international trade for its success.