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The Basic Environmental History pp 1–29Cite as

Energy in History

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Part of the book series: Environmental History ((ENVHIS,volume 4))

Abstract

The topic of energy is of central interest today. Although a long-term view can be useful in order to clarify contemporary trends and future perspectives, scholarly literature provides little information on the consumption of energy sources by past societies, before the beginning of the 20th century. In the following analysis, the topic of energy will be discussed from the viewpoint of economics, with a long-term historical perspective. After a brief introduction in Sects. 1.1 and 1.2 will examine some definitions and concepts, useful when dealing with energy and the role of energy within the economy. Section 1.3 will focus on the relationship between humans and energy in pre-modern societies. Section 1.4 will discuss the energy transition, that is changes in energy and environment from the early modern age to the present day. In the Conclusion (Sect. 1.5) general estimates will be proposed of past energy consumption on the whole.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    On these topics see the first two chapters of Kander et al. (2013) chaps. 1 and 2.

  2. 2.

    Useful the discussion of the definitions of energy in Kostic (2004, 527–538) (2007).

  3. 3.

    For the terms “micro-” and “macro-inventions” see Mokyr (1990).

  4. 4.

    Still important on the big changes in the history of energy is the book by Cipolla (1962).

  5. 5.

    “Organic economies” is the expression used by Wrigley (1988). With reference to the history of energy, the same term of “organic” had been used before by Cottrell (2009), See also Wrigley (2010).

  6. 6.

    In chemistry “organic” refers to Carbon compounds. The term has been used by F. Cottrell and A. Wrigley (see the previous footnote) to distinguish past agricultural economies (whose base was an organic energy system) from modern economies (based on mineral fossil sources). However, fossil fuels are also organic compounds. To avoid misunderstandings I think it useful to distinguish “Past agricultural organic vegetable economies” from “Modern organic fossil economies”.

  7. 7.

    On the discovery of fire see particularly Perlès (1977) and Goudsblom (1992).

  8. 8.

    On the quantification of water and wind power see Malanima (1996).

  9. 9.

    See the useful Herman (2007).

  10. 10.

    On the relationship Modern Growth—Energy see: Ayres and Warr (2009).

  11. 11.

    See the estimates by Kander (2002) and Malanima (2006).

  12. 12.

    On this phase in the history of energy see the still useful article by Bairoch (1983) and particularly Kander et al. (2013). A brief, useful reconstruction is that provided by Grübler (2004).

  13. 13.

    Malanima (2012).

  14. 14.

    On the transition to fossil sources of energy, it is useful Sieferle (2001).

  15. 15.

    On the Malthusian constraints in pre-modern “organic” energy systems: Wrigley (1989). I examined the start of the energy transition in Malanima (2012). The path towards the modern economy.

  16. 16.

    Carnot (1824).

  17. 17.

    On energy consumption in Europe, see Bartoletto (2012).

  18. 18.

    From Cook (1976, 135).

  19. 19.

    As stated by Rossignol and Durost (2007).

  20. 20.

    Nordhaus (2011).

  21. 21.

    As stressed by Smil (2006).

  22. 22.

    Both on past and future energy consumption see the useful reconstruction by Beretta (2007).

  23. 23.

    Lotka (1922).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Università Magna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy

    Paolo Malanima

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  1. Paolo Malanima
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Correspondence to Paolo Malanima .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. DEISTAF, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    Mauro Agnoletti

  2. Political and International Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Simone Neri Serneri

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Malanima, P. (2014). Energy in History. In: Agnoletti, M., Neri Serneri, S. (eds) The Basic Environmental History. Environmental History, vol 4. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09180-8_1

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