How Did People Survive Without Electricity?

Electricity is an essential part of modern life, powering everything from homes and businesses to communication and healthcare. But for most of human history, people lived without it. How did they manage? From ancient civilizations to the early modern period, people developed ingenious methods for cooking, heating, cooling, preserving food, and staying entertained.

1. Lighting the Darkness

Before the invention of electric lights, people relied on natural and artificial sources to illuminate their surroundings:

Sunlight: Homes were built with large windows, open courtyards, and reflective surfaces to maximize daylight. For example, Roman villas often had atriums with open roofs to allow sunlight in.

Candles: Made from beeswax, tallow (animal fat), or later paraffin, candles provided portable and inexpensive lighting. Wealthier households used beeswax candles, which burned cleaner and lasted longer than tallow candles, commonly used by the poor.

Oil Lamps: Civilizations such as the Romans and Greeks used lamps fueled by olive oil or other plant-based oils. The famous Aladdin’s lamp, depicted in folklore, was based on real oil lamps used throughout the Middle East and Asia.

Torches and Fireplaces: Wood-burning fires served dual purposes—providing warmth and light. In medieval castles, large hearths in the great hall served as the central source of light after sunset.

2. Cooking Without Modern Stoves

Cooking was a fundamental part of survival, and people devised various methods to prepare food:

(A ground oven was, and still is, one of the best ways to cook without any kind of cooking equipment, or electricity)

Open Fires: Early humans cooked over open flames using fire pits or stone hearths. Native American tribes often used three-stone fires, which allowed them to balance a pot over a flame.

Wood-Fired Ovens: Clay and brick ovens were used in many cultures, particularly for baking bread. In ancient Egypt, large communal ovens baked bread for entire villages.

Cast Iron Stoves: By the 18th and 19th centuries, cast iron stoves allowed more efficient cooking. Pioneer families in North America used these stoves to cook stews, bake cornbread, and prepare meals in one pot.

Solar Cooking: Some civilizations harnessed the sun’s energy using reflective materials to heat food. In India, people used blackened earthen pots under direct sunlight to slow-cook lentils and rice.

3. Keeping Warm in Cold Climates

Without electric heating, people relied on different techniques to stay warm:

(Shelters big enough to have a fire inside were a must, and allowed the smoke to escape through the thatch)

Layered Clothing: Wool, fur, and animal hides provided insulation. The Inuit people of the Arctic developed multi-layered clothing using sealskin and caribou fur to trap body heat.

Fireplaces and Stoves: Homes were built around central fireplaces, often with chimneys. Colonial American homes had large hearths where families gathered for warmth during harsh winters.

Thermal Architecture: In colder regions, homes were constructed with thick walls, small windows, and underground rooms to retain heat. For instance, traditional Icelandic turf houses had grass-covered roofs that provided excellent insulation.

Bed Warmers: Heated stones or hot water bottles were used to keep beds warm at night. In medieval Europe, people used brass bed warmers filled with embers to heat up their bedding before sleep.

4. Staying Cool in Hot Weather

Without air conditioning, people used natural and architectural methods to beat the heat:

(Most people who live in hot climates are simply “used” to the heat, and don’t require the same levels of comfort that people from cooler countries need)

Shaded Homes: Houses were designed with verandas, overhangs, and thick walls to block out heat. Traditional Mediterranean homes had whitewashed walls to reflect sunlight and keep interiors cool.

Cross Ventilation: Windows and doors were positioned to allow air circulation. Traditional Japanese houses used sliding doors and bamboo blinds to create airflow.

Courtyards and Water Features: Fountains, pools, and trees helped create cooler microclimates. Persian wind towers (badgirs) funneled air through buildings to provide natural air conditioning.

Hand Fans and Evaporative Cooling: Wet cloths, clay jugs, and hand-held fans were common cooling methods. In ancient Egypt, servants waved large palm-leaf fans to cool the pharaohs.

5. Food Preservation Without Refrigeration

Before electric refrigerators, people found creative ways to store food:

(Pemmican is one of the longest lasting food that doesn’t need to be kept in a fridge)

Root Cellars: Underground storage kept food cool and fresh. European and American settlers used cellars to store potatoes, carrots, and apples for winter use.

Salting and Smoking: Meat and fish were preserved with salt or smoked over a fire. The Vikings preserved fish by drying and smoking it, allowing them to travel long distances.

Fermentation: Sauerkraut, kimchi, and yogurt were preserved through natural fermentation. Ancient Chinese civilizations fermented vegetables to provide food during harsh winters.

Drying and Curing: Fruits, herbs, and meats were dried to extend shelf life. Native Americans made pemmican, a high-energy dried meat mixed with fat and berries.

Ice Houses: Blocks of ice were harvested in winter and stored in insulated buildings. Wealthy Roman citizens used deep pits covered with straw to store ice brought down from mountains.

6. Communication Before Phones and Internet

People maintained communication in different ways:

Handwritten Letters: Couriers and postal systems carried messages over long distances. In the 18th century, mail coaches carried letters across Europe and America.

Smoke Signals and Drums: Many indigenous cultures used visual and auditory signals. The Plains Indians in North America used smoke signals to send messages over large distances.

Town Criers and Messengers: Important news was announced publicly or delivered by messengers on horseback. In medieval Europe, town criers walked the streets shouting news updates.

Telegraphs: The 19th century brought the telegraph, which allowed long-distance messaging before telephones. The first transatlantic telegraph cable was laid in 1858, revolutionizing global communication.

7. Entertainment and Social Life

Without television, radio, or the internet, people enjoyed various forms of entertainment:

Storytelling and Music: Families gathered to share stories and play instruments. The griots of West Africa were oral historians who passed down stories through song.

Theater and Performances: Plays, puppet shows, and street performers were common. Shakespearean plays were a major form of entertainment in Elizabethan England.

Board Games and Sports: Chess, dice games, and outdoor games kept people entertained. Ancient Egyptians played Senet, one of the world’s oldest known board games.

Reading and Writing: Books, poetry, and handwritten journals were primary sources of knowledge and amusement. Monks in medieval monasteries meticulously copied manuscripts to preserve knowledge.

8. Health and Medicine

Medical treatments relied on natural remedies and traditional practices:

(Trepanation is the process of drilling a hole through someones skull to relieve pressure, presumably for a migrane)

Herbal Medicine: Plants like aloe, willow bark, and garlic were used for healing. Chinese medicine utilized ginseng and ginger for various ailments.

Midwives and Folk Healers: Communities depended on experienced individuals for medical care. In early America, midwives played a crucial role in childbirth and women’s health.

Physical Activity and Diet: A more natural diet and active lifestyle helped prevent many modern diseases. The Mediterranean diet, rich in olive oil and fresh vegetables, has been linked to longevity.

Surviving without electricity required ingenuity, resourcefulness, and close reliance on nature. Communities thrived through well-adapted architecture, practical knowledge, and social cooperation. While modern technology has made life more convenient, many of these ancient survival techniques remain relevant today, especially in off-grid living and emergency preparedness. By understanding how people lived in the past, we can appreciate the conveniences of modern life while also learning valuable skills for sustainability.