With the development of the Mediterranean civilization, mining became one of the most critical industries in the world. 

Athens grew wealthy, due to the extractions from silver mines (Laurion Mines). Athens then fell when Sparta wrested away control of the silver mines. 

People mined through systems of shafts and galleries supported by stone columns as timber became scarce in the area. However, it was the death penalty for extracting ore from one of the stone columns. The Romans expanded, in part, in pursuit of mines. The growth of civilization required more and more money to finance its operations. It needed metal to create military equipment. And, the requirement of infrastructure compelled the function of the government.

Becauseof the rise of Europe, governments gave miners extensive rights to take land  and profit from the minerals they found there. 

Nevertheless, the governments always required a portion of the revenue from mining as payments for granting the mining rights. As a result, the realization endured that countries could not develop without the exploitation of natural resources. 

Civilization progressed requiring an increasing amount of mined material to manufacture the necessities of everyday life and fund the economies of nations.

The influx of this mineral wealth from the New World financed the Renaissance. Eventually, the creation and expansion of countries in the New World, along with the development of the Industrial Age, resulted in the generation of the mining industry we have today.

With the Mining developing, the mining lamps will be needed more and more.