Anthropogenic activities have profoundly modified biogeochemical cycles in freshwater ecosystem worldwide. Despite its ecological significance as China's fourth-largest freshwater lake, the long-term environmental evolution of Lake Hongze remains inadequately understood. In this study, we employ a multi-proxy approach, integrating sedimentary total organic carbon (TOC), stable carbon isotope composition of TOC (delta 13CTOC), and black carbon (BC) characterization within a210Pb-dated sediment core, to elucidate anthropogenic influences on environmental dynamics and carbon cycling in the lake-catchment system since the late 19th century. Organic geochemical evidence indicates predominantly autochthonous organic matter sources in the sedimentary record. Parallel BC analyses reveal distinct temporal patterns: post-1990s soot accumulation mirrors accelerated regional industrialization in east China, whereas declining char deposition reflect effective implementation of environmental policies over recent decades. Notably, the marked peak of TOC accumulation rates coincides with that of BC, highlighting its significance in lacustrine carbon sequestration. These multi-proxy reconstructions provide critical insights into how socio-economic transitions and environmental governance have shaped carbon dynamics in large lake systems.