ABSTRACT
The global and historical overview of energy use is presented with emphasis on energy diversity but also universality. Starting from ancient civilization a chronology of selected energy-related events is presented. It starts from the prehistoric age, when humans relied on their muscular power to survive; then they learned how to control and use fire, and to domesticate and use animal power, and slowly evolved from hunters and food-gatherers to developers of early agriculture. The use of water and wind power (waterwheels and windmills) expanded human activities and mobility. Further developments included smelting copper and iron ores; using charcoal; and developing different tools, gunpowder, and sailing ships. The use of coal in the mid-1700s and the development of steam engines set off fast growth of cities, population, and further inventions, including internal-combustion engines and the discovery and use of oil, natural gas, and electricity. This accelerated growth period, known as the Industrial Revolution, matured by the end of the 19th century with significant use of fossil fuels and further electrification, and resulted in almost-exponential growth of population and energy use. After the development of nuclear energy and the realization that the abundance of inexpensive fossil fuels will come to an end, along with concern about global environmental pollution, a modern era, with computerization and global Information Revolution, has been taking place. After all developments, life may be happier in the post-fossil fuel era, which represents only a bleep on the human-history radar screen.
