It takes a lot of historical elaboration to answer this question, and I try to answer this question with the knowledge I have gained.
If we want to talk about the industrial revolution, we should start with Watt. Let history tell you: Why did the industrial revolution come from Britain, not China?
The first chapter is the story of industrial revolution.
The story of the first quarter watt (on)
The symbol of the first industrial revolution was that the Englishman Watt invented the steam engine, but how did he invent the steam engine?
We all know such a story: when Watt was a child, he saw the kettle lid pushed up when the water was boiling, so he asked his grandmother curiously, and she told him that it was steam. So Watt began to develop the steam engine, and then the steam engine was invented.
So when I was a child, I always thought: If Watt was born in China and the steam engine was invented by China, then China could lead the industrial revolution and would not be bullied by foreign powers for more than 100 years. Britain is really lucky. A big pie fell from the sky and hit an Englishman, Watt, on the head, which helped him achieve great success.
This idea continued until after I graduated from college, but as I read more and more books and became more and more rich in historical and economic knowledge, I gradually found that the invention of the steam engine was by no means a big pie falling from the sky and hitting the British people. History is by no means so simple, and Britain is by no means lucky to climb to the top of the world. What is the real history? Let me take you into that history.
First of all, we should know a historical fact. When Watt invented the steam engine, it was by no means unprecedented. At that time, many people in European countries were already developing steam engines, and the finished products had been produced, but it was too primitive and many technical problems were not solved, so it was not successful to sell. Watt himself said: My steam engine is not an invention, but an improvement. When we understand this historical background, we know that Watt's invention stood on the shoulders of predecessors, not because of his grandmother's inspiration.
1763, 27-year-old Watt began to improve the steam engine on the basis of the invention of the steam engine by French Papen, British Thomas Seville and newcomen. This steam engine was not built in our backyard, set up a workshop and knocked out with a hammer and axe. Watt wants to rent land, build factories and take care of dozens of workers and engineers. Such expenses are beyond the reach of Watt, who was born in poverty for a long time. The newly improved steam engine couldn't wait to be put on the market the next year, so Watt saw his result-bankruptcy!
Whether a new invention is successful or not is not evaluated by a bunch of experts or recognized by government departments, even if it is successful, otherwise Watt's predecessors would have gone down in history, and it was his turn. Success depends on the market. No matter how good your product is, it's no use if it can't be sold. When you can't sell it, it's because your things are not good enough-businessmen are not fools! This is the case with Watt's steam engine. He didn't solve the biggest problem left by his predecessor: too much heat loss! The kinetic energy generated by such a steam engine is not enough for coal. Who will buy it?
Watt got married before the steam engine was introduced into the market. He thinks the product will sell well. Coming to answer the question backfired, making Watt, who was heavily in debt, unable to support his new wife and afraid to have children. At that time, many people in Europe went bankrupt because of the invention of steam engine. Watt also tasted the pain of being an inventor-when he was in his prime, he was cornered, and Watt was confused by the scrap metal in the factory all day.
At this time, Watt was lucky enough to meet his first noble man, roebuck, an English rich man. Roebuck praised Watt's new machine, signed a contract with it and gave him a lot of money so that Watt could continue to develop new steam engines.
Here's a problem. If you were a rich man, would you vote for a loser? At that time, the steam engine was synonymous with failure in European countries. Besides, aren't you worried that Watt will turn his back on you when he succeeds? Or is Watt not worried that you will steal his technology? Leave a question here first, and I will answer it later.
Watt, who was injected with new funds, once again recruited troops and went into battle. He can't lose again. How can he meet people if he loses again? Fight! Watt and his assistants have been working day and night in the factory building, working hard for food and courage, and finally resisting. In short, you can describe him with all kinds of inspirational words.
Three years, this research is three years. I wonder how much this watt is worth. In these three years, Watt invented the concentrator technology and got his first patent-gee, strange, there was patent protection in Britain at that time, which was never taught in our history textbooks.
Three years later, in 1767, Watt returned to the Jianghu with his new steam engine with condenser technology, and saw his result ambitiously-bankruptcy again!
The main reason why no one bought Watt steam engine is that the new steam engine with condenser still has not substantially solved the heat loss problem.
Failure, failure, failure always follows. The hapless Watt cheated the rich man roebuck this time. After all, three years of investment has no return, and no one can stand it. Roebuck was not an emperor, so he also went bankrupt.
So Watt returned to poverty. This time, Watt and roebuck looked at each other, staring blankly at a pile of scrap metal. Others stand at the age of 30, and Watt's 30 has gone bankrupt twice, which has also brought down a monopoly. Losing one's home is a disgrace. What should I do in my future life?
We can't explore watt's mood at that time, but I guess watt still has a glimmer of hope in his heart, that is, "the patent of steam engine condenser." Watt shouted inside: I have a patent, I have value, I have hope! Why is he so confident in his patent and not afraid of being stolen by others?
Opportunity is not a pie in the sky, it must be given to people who are prepared, capable and valuable. The poor man's chance is to find a wallet on the road.
Watt's chance is that there are always rich people investing in him, because Watt has a patent. Cowhide is not bragging, Mount Tai is not piling up, and my patent for Watt is not for Cui (pronounced Cui, meaning ancient mourning)!