Since ancient times mining has had a large political impact on society. Wars have been fought to acquire minerals. Slavery has been built around mining because it is such dangerous work. Colonization in many parts of the world was in part due to the need of Europe to acquire the metals to feed the factories of the Industrial Revolution. Today, world politics and world trade are shaped in large part by the locations of mineral and energy reserves.
Mining is one of the oldest human activities.
Underground mines in Tyrol were worked from about 1600 to 400 B.C. Copper ore was heated on the mine face by fires in the shaft, and cold water was thrown on the ore to break it loose. Chunks were then reduced with bronze hammers. Flint for tools was mined in Belgium and England by 2000 B.C., using flint axes and wedges, pikes, and rakes fashioned from deer antlers. Improved steam engines solved the drainage problem. Ventilation was handled by auxiliary shafts for better circulation and by fires in the mines to draw in fresh air and expel the old heated air.