<P> The use of petroleum dates back to ancient China more than 2000 years ago . In I Ching , one of the earliest Chinese writings cites the use of oil in its raw state without refining was first discovered , extracted , and used in China in the first century BCE . In addition , the Chinese were the first to use petroleum as fuel as the early as the fourth century BCE . </P>
<P> The use of petroleum dates back to ancient China more than 2000 years ago . In I Ching , one of the earliest Chinese writings cites the use of oil in its raw state without refining was first discovered , extracted , and used in China in the first century BCE . In addition , the Chinese were the first to use petroleum as fuel as the early as the fourth century BCE . </P>
when was oil first used as an energy source
when was oil first used as an energy source
fourth century BCE
fourth century BCE