Why did it take so long for humans to utilise fossil fuels?

score:3

Fuels with high calorific values like coal and oil had been discovered in ancient times, but weren't so useful then. They weren't easy to mine, for starters. But more importantly, more readily available fuels like charcoal, olive oil, wood, peat, etc. were good enough.

One of the (if not the) major contributors to the adoption of fossil fuels was the gradual introduction of blast furnaces. They allowed to reach the higher temperatures needed to improve smelting techniques. They were initially fueled with charcoal; coke was introduced shortly after.

Denis de Bernardy 23183

📝 In a broad sense, what are the reasons for the history-spanning persecution of Jews?
📝 Irish Nationalist Party in Liverpool
📝 Is there any evidence of armies enrolling women in fighting roles in significant number in antiquity or the middle ages?
📝 Did foreign language phrase books exist in the ancient world?
📝 Why did armies meet on the battlefield, and how often did they? (medieval times)
📝 Were the names in 'Les Miserables' ever common?
📝 Can anyone help identify this passenger steamship with double funnels and two masts?
📝 Why did human and civil rights gain a foothold at the time they did?
📝 Why did the Union army favor a "western" route to approaching Richmond during the American Civil War
📝 What are the historical first steps to imposing autocracy? Is there a pattern?
📝 What does this Samurai crest mean?
📝 Were there ever wars/battles where infantry were given multiple rifles to speed up rate of fire?
📝 Rationale for mounted infantry?
📝 What was the first regular airline service to pass low over urban areas?
📝 How was Australia able to start to demobilize in 1944?
📝 How were snipers used on the western front during WW2?
📝 Why didn't China vote in UNSC Resolution 344?
📝 What caused the Mule Shoe salient?
📝 Pre-1900s advertising methods targeting a sub-population stratified by demography/social classification
📝 Were the Japanese aware of Desmond Doss's actions?
📝 What do historians infer about the world view of the ancient Egyptians based on the prophecy of Neferty?
📝 Has Puerto Rico experienced fewer privileges and autonomy than other US territories?
📝 chests for transporting bedding furnishings (and mattresses)
📝 What kind of rifle used this shell case?
📝 Why was Bulgaria at war with both the Allied and the Axis at the end of WWII?
📝 Is it really true that more high-ranking Nazis died in Tatra cars than in combat?
📝 Did Lenin order the execution of the Romanovs?
📝 What are some examples of racism in pre-modern literature?
📝 Were the dates of saints days moved as part of the Gregorian calendar reforms?
📝 What was the calendar used by ancient Palmyrenes?

Source: stackoverflow.com

Travel Tips

Why did it take so long for humans to utilise fossil fuels?

More post

Search Posts

Related post