This document provides a historical overview of coal use from ancient times to present day. It discusses some of the earliest uses of coal in ancient China and Greece. It then outlines how coal was crucial during the industrial revolution due to its abundant availability. The document also examines early coal mining practices and some of the inventions fueled by coal like early steam engines. Finally, it discusses modern coal mining techniques and coal's main uses today in power generation, as well as ongoing efforts to mitigate coal's environmental impacts.