Energy was of central importance in the transition from the traditional to the modern economy. The introduction of new energy carriers and of engines able to transform energy into mechanical work was a necessary, although not unique, condition of modern growth in Europe and subsequently in the rest of the world. Yet there were significant differences between countries. Italy’s transition was slow, and the scarcity of energy resources has seriously affected the process of industrialization in Italy.
DOI: doi.org/10.5282/rcc/6220