History of Energy

Fire was civilization's first great energy invention, and wood was the main fuel for a long time. How much do you know about when different energy resources were first used?

Electricity Around 600: BC Thales, a Greek, found that when amber was rubbed with silk, it became electrically charged and attracted objects. He had originally discovered static electricity.

Electricity 1600: William Gilbert (England) first coined the term electricity from elektron, the Greek word for amber. Gilbert wrote about the electrification of many substances. He was also the first person to use the terms electric force, magnetic pole, and electric attraction.

Oil (petroleum) 3000 BC: The Mesopotamians of that era used rock oil in architectural adhesives, ship caulks, medicines, and roads.

Oil (petroleum) 2000 BC The Chinese refined crude oil for use in lighting and heating.

Natural gas 200 B.C.: The Chinese used natural gas to make salt from salt water (brine) in gas-fired evaporators.

Natural gas 1626: French explorers discovered Native Americans burning gases that were seeping into and around Lake Erie.

Reflection When will fuels such as hydrogen become commonly used? Why do we care so much about that?