Metallic and non-metallic minerals, more than any other raw material, have participated in the process of economic globalization, which characterizes the modern era as a historical trend. Mining activity has been a particular sector of the Greek economy with an international orientation since the 19th century. The main question addressed by the book is how mining activity contributed to domestic economic development, affected social relations, and shaped policies.

The central focus of this approach is the concept of division of labor, through which social and economic differentiations are studied at multiple levels: on the one hand, the Greek case is integrated into a system of hierarchical relations in the globalized economy, and on the other hand, mining operations in Greece are more systematically examined on a small and medium scale. Finally, the division of labor is examined within the workplaces themselves, in the mines, as well as in the families of miners, where the relationships, tensions, and dynamics that develop within them are identified.

Topics of particular study include the enterprises, techniques, and methods of mining, the geographical dispersion and fragmentation of mining operations, the variety of deposits, dependence on international markets, the social group of mining engineers, the market and working conditions, labor groups, the occupational health of miners, labor movements and strikes, the impact of mining activity on local communities where mines operated (Lavrio, Serifos, Evia, etc.).