Leading historians examine why Britain emerged from years of sustained competition with European rivals in a position of dominance within the domains of naval power, empire, global commerce, agricultural efficiency, industrial production, fiscal capacity and advanced technology. They plot Britain's unique path to the Industrial Revolution throughout the interconnections between agriculture, foreign trade and industrialization, unusual inventiveness, the role of institutions, and the contribution of military and naval superiority.

Leading historians examine why Britain emerged from years of sustained competition with European rivals in a position of dominance within the domains of naval power, empire, global commerce, agricultural efficiency, industrial production, fiscal capacity and advanced technology. They plot Britain's unique path to the Industrial Revolution throughout the interconnections between agriculture, foreign trade and industrialization, unusual inventiveness, the role of institutions, and the contribution of military and naval superiority.