History of Europe

When did coal become a common fuel in Europe?

Coal began to be widely used as fuel in Europe during the 13th century. There are records that coal was used as fuel in England in the 13th century. Although it seems that coal was rarely employed as a fuel at the time, but when it was, it was mainly for industrial purposes.

By the mid-16th century, coal was being used domestically, especially for brewing and glass-making. In fact, coal was widely used as a fuel for industrial purposes such as brewing and glass-making, and to produce coke for use in iron smelting from the end of the 16th century.

Coal did not start to become a major source of energy for homes and businesses until the 18th century.