Modern history is steeped in oil. Oil is a fuel as well as a raw material for such products as plastics or detergents. Oil is the driving force behind major technological, economic and social developments, even revolutions and wars. The 20th century has lightly been called the century of oil. For most of the last century and until the present day, Royal Dutch Shell has been one of the largest oil companies in the world. From its creating in 1907 the company played a key role in the global oil industry.