The industrial revolution as we know it, with steam powered machines and trains, really started around the 1840s. Yet coal was already mined for almost a century at this point. What was coal used for prior to the advent of the steam engine, that warranted quite a bit of mining of it already?
by /u/Pashahlis in /r/AskHistorians
Upvotes: 47
Favorite this post:
Mark as read:
Your rating:
Add this post to a custom list