Final answer:
The main uses of petroleum in the late 19th century and early 20th century were as a lubricant, for kerosene lamps, and most pivotally, as fuel for internal combustion engines powering automobiles and transportation. This marked a shift from steam to petroleum engines, significantly impacting transportation, industry, and urban development.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main uses of petroleum in the late 19th century and early 20th century reflect the substance's growing importance during the Industrial Revolution. Initially, petroleum served primarily as a machine lubricant and as a source for kerosene lamps. However, with the advent of the internal combustion engine developed by Nikolaus Otto in 1876, and the introduction of the first production automobile by Karl Benz in 1885, followed by the mass production of the Ford Model T in 1913, petroleum's role in society drastically shifted.
During this period, petroleum became crucial for transportation, with diesel-fired ship and train engines becoming more common due to their efficiency over coal-fired steam engines. By the second decade of the twentieth century, the gasoline-powered automobile had become commonplace, transforming not just personal mobility but also urban development and infrastructure, leading to the demand for better roads and fueling the rise of related industries, such as those manufacturing rubber for tires.
In summary, the late 19th and early 20th centuries saw petroleum evolve from a lubricant and lighting source to becoming the lifeblood of transportation and an enabler of the Second Industrial Revolution. This period established the framework of the modern petroleum-driven economy with vast implications for global commerce, industry, and the everyday lives of people.