World history, and the growth of the world economy, is intimately tied to energy development.
Humans ceaselessly strive to find substitutes for expending human energy.
Human ingenuity has given rise to a veritable flood of labor-saving devices since the dawning of civilization. Using energy more efficiently has been a fundamental component in the evolution of technology, as, for example, the 1300 BC Egyptian water lifting device shown here, which was a prelude to modern hydropower systems.