Energy consumption in E ngland and I taly, 1560–1913. Two pathways toward energy transition

The displacement of the centre of the E uropean economy from the M editerranean to the A tlantic and the beginning of north–south divergence in E urope has been discussed on the basis of data on real wages, urbanization rates, and, more recently, estimates of gross domestic product for a number of E uropean countries. The purpose of the present article is to contribute to this line of research with the elaboration of yearly series of total energy consumption in I taly and E ngland for the long period 1560–1913. New data on energy services, energy intensity, and, finally, social savings from the use of energy are also presented and discussed for both I taly and E ngland. These new data allow us to specify that energy played a central role. Yet it was relatively late that its importance as a provider of mechanical work developed fully; that is, from 1830 onwards in England and from the end of the nineteenth century in I taly.