Question

With gas, which was the physical source of illumination, lighting was more easily controlled and managed. Lighting intensity, for example, could it be raised and lowered. Its effectiveness, however, remained limited. In which century was Gas the main source of illumination?

Answer 1

Gas lighting was the predominant source of illumination during the 19th century, but it was eventually overtaken by the safer and more efficient electric lighting pioneered by inventors such as Thomas Edison in the late 19th century.

Step-by-step explanation:

Gas lighting became the main source of illumination in the 19th century, particularly after London installed its first gas streetlights in 1807. By the mid-century, gas lighting was widely adopted in cities, and by the 1880s, it was commonly used within households. However, the introduction of electric lighting by inventors like Joseph Swan and Thomas Edison in the late 19th century, with patents being filed around 1878-1879, began to surpass gas lighting in effectiveness and safety. This marked the beginning of a significant transition to electric illumination, enabling factories to operate continuously and changing the dynamics of urban living.