ABSTRACT

Historical sources are more or less in agreement that coal was first used in various parts of the world during the Bronze Age, 3,000-4,000 years ago, that the Chinese began to use coal for heating and smelting in the Warring States Period (475-221 BCE), and that they are credited with organizing production and consumption to the extent that by the year 1,000 this activity could be called an industry. China remained the world’s largest producer and consumer of coal until the perfecting and patenting of the steam engine by James Watt in 1769.