There was an increase demand for coal as an energy source yield democratic claims in some places and colonial domination in others because of democracy. Miners were in the better position to have voting rights, have higher wages and other benefits.
They decreased the functions of the national government
Ancient civilizations often credited the creation of the world to other worldly - or as we'd think of them today "supernatural" - beings who they personified as being decidedly human. The ancients did not tend to have the sort of scientific, logical, evidence-based understanding of the workings of the world that we have now. Instead, the credited the creation of the world to beings who they imagined as being human, in a sense, but also far more powerful and mystical.
No they can't function because it is the majour source of energy.
