Economic Overview - In 2021, China's GDP reached 114.4 trillion yuan, growing by 8.1% year-on-year, equivalent to approximately 17.7 trillion USD, accounting for over 18% of the global economy, solidifying its position as the second-largest economy in the world [1] - The historical context highlights that during the Song Dynasty, China accounted for 60% of the world's GDP, and even during the Qing Dynasty, it held 35% before being surpassed by Western countries due to the Industrial Revolution [1] Historical Context - The establishment of a unified state in China began with the Qin Dynasty, followed by the Han Dynasty, which defined the Chinese nation. Population growth was significant during stable periods, with the Han population increasing from 18 million to 60 million in about 200 years [3] - The Ming Dynasty saw a population increase from under 60 million to over 200 million by the early 17th century, while the Qing Dynasty's population grew from 120 million to over 430 million by the 19th century due to stable agricultural conditions [3] European Context - In contrast, Europe was fragmented into numerous feudal states post-1453, leading to frequent wars and a smaller population due to the instability of the "Dark Ages" [5] - The rise of the Ottoman Empire disrupted trade routes, increasing costs for Western nations, which relied heavily on trade with China for resources [5] Industrial Revolution - The search for new trade routes led to the Age of Exploration, with European nations seeking maritime paths to Asia, culminating in the discovery of the Americas by Columbus in 1492 [7] - The need for labor to process the vast resources from colonies prompted European countries to innovate and develop machinery, marking the beginning of the Industrial Revolution [7][10] - By the late 18th century, the introduction of the spinning jenny and the steam engine revolutionized production, leading to the mechanization of the textile industry in Britain [10][12] - The transition from hand production to machine-based manufacturing in the cotton industry was largely completed by 1830, establishing Britain as the first industrialized nation [14] Conclusion - The Industrial Revolution represented a significant leap in productivity and wealth creation, enabling Britain to become a dominant global power, often referred to as the "empire on which the sun never sets" [14] - The conditions that led to the Industrial Revolution were unique to Britain, as other nations lacked the necessary preconditions to replicate this transformation [14]

在人类漫长的饮食文化长河中，糖，无疑是最甜蜜的篇章之一。而甘蔗，作为糖的主要来源，承载着数 千年的历史与文明——从它最初被发现，到一步步演变为人们日常生活中不可或缺的一部分，其中的故 事，充满了趣味与惊奇。 早在周朝，人们就开始种植甘蔗。最初，甘蔗主要作为水果生食，或是榨取蔗浆直接饮用。到了汉代， 人们将蔗浆加工浓缩，制成"蔗饴"和"蔗饧"等液态糖，以及俗称"石蜜"的固态糖。 唐代是中国制糖史上的重要转折点。贞观年间，唐太宗派遣留学生使团前往印度学习制糖技术。此后， 天竺制糖法在中国落地生根，并与本土技艺相互融合、相互激发，为中国制糖业的发展注入了活力。 北宋时期，四川匠人发明的"窨制法"，让中国糖霜制作达到了新高度。这种细腻、净白的结晶糖霜，不 仅满足了国内市场的需求，还通过海上贸易远销海外，使"中国糖"在世界舞台上崭露头角。 而在明清时期，"黄泥水淋脱色法"的发明，更让中国糖的精制水平达到了前所未有的高度。据史料记 载，使用这种方法生产出的白砂糖"洁白如雪，颗粒晶莹"，远销日本、波斯湾及欧洲等多个国家和地 区，在国际高端市场上一度占据了极其重要的地位。 大约在8000年前，位于太平洋西南部的新几内亚岛，成 ...