Energy and Civilization

Without energy in one of its many forms, nothing gets done.

All forms of life on Earth depend on energy. No human, animal, or natural or mechanical process can do anything without it. Humans’ ability to harness energy largely accounts for all advances in civilization.

The efficiencies of myriad forms of energy differ greatly, and over the centuries, people strove to find more efficient ways to extract greater yield from energy sources and to obtain cleaner energy they could harness more easily. Energy optimization relies on learning, intelligence and governance conducive to innovation. The history of energy closely parallels the history of humanity.

Energy conversion and use – including energy from the sun, wind and domesticated animals – enabled agriculture, which led to civilization.

Standing erect allowed early humans to use their hands to manipulate tools, which required intelligence and caused the brain to grow in size and capacity. The smart use of tools, especially in hunting, led to the development of complex societies. Such advances enabled early humans ...