Final answer:
The expansion of coal mining during the Industrial Revolution led to key inventions such as the steam engine, power loom, and mechanical agricultural equipment, which transformed industries like textiles and agriculture and spurred greater urbanization and industrialization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The expansion of coal mining during the Industrial Revolution led to numerous inventions that have dramatically shaped modern society. With the advent of the efficient steam engine by James Watt in 1763, industries found novel ways to use coal to generate power. The steam engine's initial use was to pump water out of mines but soon, it was harnessed to power machinery in various sectors.
Textile mills were among the first to benefit from steam power, with Edmund Cartwright's power loom revolutionizing cloth manufacturing. Agricultural productivity also surged with the introduction of mechanical seeders and threshing machines. Furthermore, the accessibility and quality of paper and glass products improved, transforming education and healthcare alongside developments in gas lighting and urban infrastructure.
The continuous advancement of steam power and consequent industrialization led to greater urbanization and the rise of industry titans, further restructuring economies and societies. New production techniques such as the assembly line reduced reliance on skilled labor, paving the way for mass production. Overall, coal mining initiated a cascade of technological breakthroughs that have changed the way people live and work.