In the 19th century, what materials did the UK produce more than half of in the world?
The 19th century was a period of massive industrial growth in Britain, often called the Industrial Revolution. This era saw Britain become a global powerhouse in manufacturing. Think of it as the workshop of the world! A key part of this was the textile industry, particularly cotton. Britain had access to vast supplies of raw cotton from its colonies and developed innovative technologies like the power loom to weave it into cloth on a massive scale. Simultaneously, advancements in iron production, fueled by coal mining, allowed Britain to produce unprecedented amounts of iron. This iron was crucial for building railways, machinery, and ships, further driving industrial expansion. So, the correct answer is cotton cloth and iron because Britain dominated global production of these materials during the 19th century. While potatoes were certainly important for the British diet, they weren't a major export or industrial product. And bronze, while historically significant, was largely superseded by iron by the 19th century.
As a fun historical fact, Britain was leading the world's industry, weaving more than half of the world's cotton cloth and forging iron.