The history of lighting is fascinating and includes philosophy, art, sciences and religion. Through an extensive timeline, we know that until early man discovered the element of fire quite by accident. He lived in darkness for half of his life. Lightning probably struck a nearby tree and set it on fire, revealing a source of light in addition to the sun and the moon.
But with fire, man could control it and generate heat for warmth and provide energy for cooking. This new source of light gave man a whole new definition of power and control moving him to the top of the food chain.
By bundling sticks together, fire became a torch to transport and light a path to other places. Later, man learned that grease and oil served as fuels for his fire and he could create holders for the fuel. He fashioned an animal horn, a shell, or a rock into a vessel for his fuel and fire. Then, man discovered how a wick added another measure of control, which eventually led to the invention of the candle.
Some people believe the greatest technology in history is the electric light bulb. It is the incandescent light bulb that freed our reliance on daylight. While candles led our way through darker ages, and gaslight was a little better, artificial electric lighting provided another level of control to take us from rudimentary technology to a new source enhancing our quality of life.
