12 Unexpected Ways The World Was Different Before The Light Bulb
![12 Unexpected Ways The World Was Different Before The Light Bulb](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/9/4/6/761946_320x180.jpg)
Even before Thomas Edison invented and began commercializing his incandescent lamp first in 1879, just a year later, in 1880, British engineers were illustrating that lighting was doable with the arc lamp.
Everything changed when the light bulb was invented. It's difficult to envision life before the invention of the light bulb. After all, it was a brilliant idea (sorry, we had to). Just consider the modern cartoon ‘idea’ cliche: a cartoon light bulb appearing above a person's head.
However, there are some aspects of human society that were completely abolished when the light bulb was initially turned on. Campfire tales are only told on special trips and at kids camps. We used to be able to see the Milky Way plainly and in stunning clarity at night. On the plus side, new candles smell nicer, and we no longer have to be concerned about "night-sneaks."
It’s because of the light bulb that our lives and our civilization were permanently transformed. The invention of the light bulb had an impact on several things.
Scroll on down for some wild examples of stuff that was changed forever by one brilliant invention.
![Before artificial light, people could see the Milky Way. CRACKEDCOr An estimated 80% of people today have never seen the Milky Way due to light pollut](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/9/4/5/761945.jpg)
Source: PBS
![Common candles smelled bad. Unless you were rich and lived near a candle maker, people in the U.S. (where bees weren't common yet) would save dripping](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/2/1/761621.jpg)
Source: New-York Historical Society
![In some European cities, thieves tripped victims by stretching ropes across narrow streets. CRACKEDc Outside of London, thieves would knock riders dow](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/9/4/4/761944.jpg)
Source: At Day’s Close: Night in Times Past
![People would sneak into houses in the day, hide under beds, and attack at night. These night-sneaks struck when people were defenseless, often targe](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/9/4/3/761943.jpg)
Source: At Day’s Close: Night in Times Past
![Ecologically, we were probably better off. CRACKED COM Putting aside fossil fuels, modern night light usage causes sea turtles to wander in-land and m](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/2/0/761620.jpg)
Source: Pacific Standard
![Before Christmas lights, people used candles, but it caused issues. CRACKEDCO People had a difficult time figuring out how to keep the candles on the](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/3/2/761632.jpg)
Source: Aletia
![For most of history, people used to gather around campfires to tell stories and sing songs. CRACKEDcO With individual sources of light, we are more li](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/0/7/761507.jpg)
Source: Pacific Stanndard
![Building architecture completely changed when daylight wasn't the primary source of light. By the 1930s, a windowless building was an actual design op](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/4/8/2/761482.jpg)
![Pre-industrial soceties have far fewer sleep problems. For example, people in the Hadza tribe in Tanzania universally self-reporting sleep well.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/4/8/1/761481.jpg)
Source: BBC
![People slept in segments. First sleep lasted until around midnight. CRACKEDCO Before second sleep, people would get up to pee, smoke, read, have s](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/4/8/0/761480.jpg)
Source: The Guardian
![People used to know every inch of their neighborhoods. ORACKEDCON It was necessary to navigate by only the light of the moon.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/4/7/9/761479.jpg)
Source: The Guardian
![In Sweden, people would push furniture against the walls before going to bed. 2.500 CRACKED CON They did this to avoid bumping into furniture in the m](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/4/7/8/761478.jpg)
Source: The Guardian