Coal

The discovery of coal can be seen as the turning point for our modern age, the point when we decided to use it as an alternative form of energy to wood or other burnable materials. The irony now of course is that coal and oil are now fast depleting, and we are once again being prompted to turn to alternative forms of energy.

The development of the industrial revolution was the key factor in the increased use of coal in society. It had been used before then, but only in certain circumstances, though it was paid quite a bit of attention by the Romans. As such, the rapid introduction of coal into the new industrial society meant that there were certain areas in the country that would be literally black with coal smoke, and would have been detrimental to the health of its residents. Place in the UK such as Manchester and The Black Country in the West Midlands are prime examples of this, the name of the Midlands area being quite literal in its interpretation. The Midlands as well as the North were involved in some of the heaviest coal mining operations, which boosted their economies but had a terrible effect on the air and the health of its residents.

Coal is now being used less than ever, due to dwindling supplies and greater demand for alternative forms of energy. It may be soon that we see coal stop being used at all, in favour of more renewable and less damaging energy sources.