In this paper, Cesare Marchetti presents a review of the development of world energy markets over the last two centuries. This is then used as a springboard for projections of the likely future penetration of natural gas. Marchetti's hypothesis is that society can be viewed as an ensemble of component structures engaged in Darwinian competition; his analysis leads to interesting and perhaps surprising conclusions on long-term energy price stability, the future role of natural gas, and the vexed question of whether or not there really is a global energy shortfall.