Trystan Casey
Before the advent of electricity, the world was a very different place after dark. Cities were dimly lit by candles and oil lamps, and the streets were dark and dangerous. People had to be creative to navigate their way through the gloom, and activities such as reading and writing were reserved for the daytime. Candles and lamp oil were expensive, so people kept lighting to a minimum, and only the wealthy could afford the best quality beeswax candles. Today, we take for granted our easy access to light, but before electricity, the night was a much darker and more mysterious time. However, the night sky was also richer, with the Milky Way and other celestial wonders visible to anyone, anywhere.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Lighting sources | Candles, oil lamps, gas lamps, torches, moonlight, natural light, mirrors |
| Affordability | Beeswax candles were the best but expensive; most people used rush lights or tallow, which was smoky and smelly animal fat |
| Lighting maintenance | Candles had to be trimmed regularly, every 10 minutes or so for wax, or up to 40 times an hour for tallow |
| Safety | It was dangerous to go outside after sundown; people could hire a "link boy" to light their way |
| Activities | Reading and writing were considered daytime activities; people spent more time together as a family |
| City life | Only 2% of the world's population lived in cities; cities were dark, illuminated only by candles and oil lamps |
| Astronomy | The night sky was not obscured by light pollution, and people could see the Milky Way and other celestial bodies with the naked eye |
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What You'll Learn
People relied on candles, oil lamps, and gas lamps for light
Before the advent of electricity, people relied on candles, oil lamps, and gas lamps for light. These light sources played a crucial role in illuminating homes, streets, and cities, shaping the way people lived and interacted with their surroundings after dark.
Candles, for instance, were a common source of light, with beeswax candles being the most desirable due to their cleaner burn and brighter light. However, these candles were expensive, so most people used rushlights or tallow candles. Tallow was made from animal fat and produced a smoky, smelly flame that required constant wick trimming. Candles were also used in artwork, where a thin layer of gold, called gold leaf, was applied to make the artwork glow in the soft candlelight.
Oil lamps, which had been in use since ancient times, burned plant- or animal-derived oils. Like candles, oil lamps required regular wick trimming and carried a constant risk of spillage. Despite these challenges, oil lamps provided a valuable source of light before the widespread use of candles and gas lamps.
Gas lamps emerged as a significant innovation in the late 1700s when Scottish inventor William Murdoch equipped his home with coal gas-powered lamps in 1792. Gas lighting soon spread to the streets, with German engineer Frederick Winsor illuminating a London street with gas lamps in 1807. While gas lamps provided brighter light than candles or oil lamps, they were not without drawbacks. Gas lamps required manual lighting and extinguishing each day, and they produced carbon monoxide, a harmful byproduct.
The introduction of these light sources had a profound impact on people's lives. Before their widespread use, cities were dark and dangerous places after sunset, with limited options for illumination. Pedestrians often hired "link boys" to guide them through the dark streets, carrying torches made of rope or twisted rags. The development of candles, oil lamps, and gas lamps gradually transformed these dark cities, paving the way for the eventual arrival of electricity and the bright, illuminated urban landscapes we know today.
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Cities were dark and dangerous after sundown
Before the advent of electricity, cities were dark and treacherous after sundown. The streets of pre-19th-century European and American cities were dimly lit, making it difficult for pedestrians to navigate and creating a dangerous environment. The lack of street lighting meant that cities were plunged into darkness, with only candles and oil lamps providing a faint glow in homes.
Candles and lamp oil were expensive, so people used lighting sparingly, only illuminating the rooms they were occupying. Those who could afford it might have used beeswax candles, while others made do with rushlights or tallow—smoky, odorous animal fat poured into a reservoir with a textile wick. The wicks of early candles also required frequent trimming, adding to the hassle of maintaining adequate lighting.
The absence of electric lighting had a significant impact on daily routines. Reading and writing were primarily daytime activities, as most people would have found it unusual and challenging to do so at night, even with candles or lamps. The lack of lighting also influenced social dynamics within households. Families were compelled to spend more time together, gathering around a single flame to engage in activities such as reading, sewing, drawing, or conversing.
The dangers and challenges of navigating dark cities after sundown led to creative solutions. On moonless nights, travellers could hire a "link boy" to guide them through the streets, carrying a torch of rope or twisted rags stiffened with fat, pitch, and resin. This practice is mentioned in Samuel Pepys's diary entry from March 25, 1661, where he describes his encounter with a child link boy who collected rags and provided him with a light to find his way home.
The introduction of gas lighting in the early 19th century marked a turning point. In 1807, German engineer Frederick Winsor illuminated a street in London using gas lamps, making it safer to venture out at night. However, operating these lamps was no easy task, requiring lamplighters to carry torches to turn them on at dusk and then return at dawn to extinguish the flames.
The invention of the electric light bulb by Thomas Edison in the 1870s revolutionized urban lighting. Timisoara, a city in western Romania, became the first place in Europe to implement electric streetlights. By the end of the 1930s, half of the homes in Britain had access to electric power, ushering in a new era of bright, safe cities that stand in stark contrast to the dark and dangerous urban environments of the pre-electricity era.
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People likely slept and woke earlier to make use of daylight
Before the advent of electricity, the world was a much darker place, especially at night. The streets of pre-19th-century European and American cities were dimly lit, if at all, making it dangerous to venture out after sundown. Inside homes, people relied on candles and oil lamps, which were expensive, to illuminate their spaces. As a result, people likely adapted their sleep schedules to make the most of daylight.
The use of candles and oil lamps was not just limited to street lighting. Inside homes, people used these light sources to illuminate their spaces. However, these light sources were costly, so people used them sparingly, only lighting the necessary areas. This meant that activities like reading and writing were typically reserved for daytime hours when there was an abundance of natural light.
The invention of gas lighting in the 19th century marked a significant turning point. In 1807, a German engineer, Frederick Winsor, lit a street in London using gas lamps, making it safer to venture out at night. However, operating these lamps was not without its challenges, requiring lamplighters to carry torches to turn them on at dusk and then return at dawn to put out the flames.
Despite these advancements, the world was still largely dependent on candles and oil lamps, which were inadequate for activities like reading and writing, except close to the light source. The soft glow of candlelight, while aesthetically pleasing, was not ideal for tasks requiring bright and consistent light.
It is reasonable to assume that people's sleep patterns aligned with the sun, waking up with the sunrise and retiring for the night not long after sunset. This theory is supported by the fact that reading and writing, typically considered daytime activities, would have been challenging under the dim light of candles or oil lamps.
In conclusion, before electricity, people likely slept and woke earlier to make use of daylight. The world was a much darker place at night, and activities that required bright light were reserved for the daytime. The invention of gas lighting and, later, electric lamps, revolutionized the way people experienced the night, making it safer and more accessible.
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The night sky was visible, without light pollution
Before the advent of electricity, the night sky was visible without light pollution. People living in cities and urban areas would have experienced darkness after sundown, with only candles and oil lamps to illuminate their homes and streets. The world was a much darker place, and the night sky was free from the glow of artificial lights.
In the pre-electricity era, the night sky would have been a breathtaking sight, with the Milky Way and even deep-space objects such as galaxies and nebulae visible to the naked eye. The International Dark-Sky Association notes that less than a century ago, anyone could look up and admire a spectacular starry night sky. This experience is now rare for those living in urban areas, as light pollution obscures the view of the night sky.
The introduction of gas lighting in the 19th century by German engineer Frederick Winsor brought some changes to street lighting. Lamplighters were responsible for operating and maintaining these gas lamps, which required manual lighting and extinguishing at dusk and dawn, respectively. However, even with these advancements, the night sky remained relatively untouched by light pollution compared to the present day.
Today, light pollution has significantly impacted our view of the night sky. In highly populated areas, it is challenging to find a truly dark sky. Central Idaho, for example, is designated as a Dark Sky Reserve, offering pristine nighttime skies that attract "astro-tourists" who are eager to witness the awe-inspiring beauty of a starry night unspoiled by artificial lights.
The contrast between historical and modern experiences of the night sky underscores the impact of human activities on our environment. Before electricity, people lived in harmony with the natural rhythm of daylight and darkness, relying on creative solutions like gold leaf in artwork and tall windows in churches to maximise natural light during the day and accepting the limitations of candlelight and oil lamps after sundown.
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Artists used gold leaf to make paintings glow in the candlelight
Before the advent of electricity, cities were dark places, illuminated only by candles and oil lamps. The night was a time of darkness and danger, and our ancestors had to be imaginative with their sources of light.
Artists played a crucial role in this endeavour, employing their skills to create glowing artworks that illuminated the dim surroundings. One such technique was the use of gold leaf—a method that involved applying thin sheets of real gold to the surface of paintings. This practice, known as "gold-ground" painting, was particularly prominent in the Middle Ages, with the sky in sacred paintings often depicted using gold leaf. The gold background symbolised the light of God and divinity, creating a spiritual and transcendental experience for believers.
Gold leaf has been a staple in artistic practices for centuries, with ancient civilisations like the Egyptians and Greeks using it to decorate statues and manuscripts. The technique was refined by craftsmen in Medieval Europe, who were able to beat gold to an astonishing thickness of one micron (0.0001 cm), making it more economical and versatile. This allowed for its application not just on statues and manuscripts but also on a wide array of objects, including picture frames and sacred objects found in royal tombs.
The use of gold leaf in paintings served a practical purpose—to make the artwork glow in the candlelight. In the absence of electric lighting, artists sought to maximise the limited light available, and the reflective properties of gold leaf achieved this effect beautifully. The glow of candlelight, as captured in paintings by artists like Georges de La Tour and Joseph Wright, added an ethereal dimension to their subjects, enhancing the spiritual and emotional impact of their artwork.
Notable artists who have employed gold leaf in their paintings include Gustav Klimt, particularly during his "Golden Phase", where he used gold leaf to create a decorative, flattened picture plane. Klimt associated gold with sexuality and intimacy rather than religious fervour or power. Yves Klein, known for his patented Klein Blue, also used gold leaf in his Monogold series, symbolically linking blue, rose, and gold to the symbols of the Holy Trinity.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, it was very dark at night before electricity. People used candles and oil lamps to light up their homes, but these were expensive and did not provide much light.
Yes, it was difficult to do activities that required good lighting, such as reading, writing, and sewing. These activities were mostly done during the day.
Before electricity, people used candles, oil lamps, and gas lamps for light. Candles were made of beeswax, tallow (animal fat), or wax.
Human eyes can adapt to the dark after a few minutes and be able to see much better. However, people would have had to keep their lighting to a minimum due to the cost of candles and oil.
At night, people would sit together and talk, read, sew, or draw by the light of a single candle or lamp. They would also have to wake up earlier to make use of the daylight.
