Mining , Metallurgy, and the Industrial Revolution

Fathi Habashi, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada

Abstract

The eighteenth century was the century of the Industrial Revolution in England and the Chemical Revolution in France. It was also the century of the beginning of mining and metallurgical education when the first Schools of Mines were created to give instruction for future miners, metallurgists, geologists, and other technicians needed for the industry. The Industrial Revolution was responsible for the shift from wood burning to coal burning economy, for the replacement of coal by coke in the blast furnace, and for the tremendous increase in iron production - - thanks to the invention of the steam engine. It also marks he beginning of capitalism. The Chemical Revolution explained the processes of combustion and smelting and reformed the chemical science. The professors at the Schools of Mines created a voluminous literature on geology, mining, and metallurgy which was a valuable guide for generations to come. For an expanded version see F. Habashi, Readings in Historical Metallurgy, Volume 1, pp. 33 - 84, Métallurgie Extractive Québec, Québec City, Canada 2006