HISTORY OF ENERGY
THE BEGINNING WAS THE SUN
The sun was the first energy source. It provided light
and heat to the first humans. During the day, the people
searched for food. They had no home. When it began to get
dark, they looked for shelter.
Once the sun went down, the world was dark and cold. The
moon and stars gave the only light. People huddled
together for warmth.
HUMANS DISCOVERED FIRE
Once in a while, lightning started fires. Early people
saw the fire and were afraid. But one day, they did not
run away from the fires. One brave person carried a
burning branch to a cave. People put wood on the fire to
keep it going. The fire kept them warm. It gave them
light. It kept dangerous animals away. For the first
time, they had a home. The hunters came home at night to
their fire and safety. The children and the old people
made sure the fire did not go out.
These early cave people did not know how to start a fire.
If the fire went out, they had to wait until lightning
struck again. Keeping the fire going was a very important
job. They had the first energy source they could control.
PEOPLE LEARNED TO START FIRES
Later, they learned how to start fires. They rubbed
pieces of flint together to make sparks. One day, someone
dropped a piece of meat into the fire. They learned that
fire could cook food. Cooked meat tasted better and was
easier to chew.
They used fire to make stronger tools. They used fire to
help them capture animals for food. They had an energy
source that could do many things for them. It made life
easier.
COMMUNTIES USE ENERGY
The sun and wood gave man energy for a long time. It was
only about 5,000 years ago that people began using other
sources.
People began using the wind to move from one place to
another. They built boats with sails that captured the
wind. They could travel to new places. Wind was the first
energy source used for transportation.
About 2,500 years ago, people began using windmills and
water wheels to grind grain. Later, these simple machines
were used to pump water and run sawmills.
Early Egyptians collected oil that floated to the top of
ponds. They burned the oil for light. American Indians
burned coal to bake clay pots. Ancient Chinese people
used natural gas to heat seawater for salt. They piped
the gas from shallow wells. At about the same time,
people began using geothermal energy. They piped water
from hot springs into their houses for heat.
People were learning how to use many different energy
sources. But until 150 years ago, the sun and wood
provided most of the energy. In many parts of the world,
they still do today.
ENERGY FOR A GROWING COUNTRY
Early settlers in the USA used wood and water wheels for
energy. They burned whale oil for light. Animals were
used in farming and for transportation.
In the 1800's the country began to grow. Villages grew
into towns and cities. People needed more energy. The
first natural gas well was dug in 1821. People used the
gas to light their homes and streets.
Coalmines were dug. Train tracks were built. We began
burning coal for heat, to power trains and boats, and to
make things. By the start of the Civil War, coal was the
major energy source for the USA.
At the same time, oil was discovered in the USA. The
first oil well was dug in 1859. The oil was used to make
kerosene for lights. They had no use for gasoline-they
just threw it away! The first gasoline car was not built
until 1892-just over a hundred years ago!
In New York, Thomas Edison built the first power plant.
In 1882, his Pearl Street Power Station sent electricity
to 85 buildings. At first, people were afraid of
electricity. They would not let their children near the
lights. Today, electricity is part of almost everything
we do. We use more every year.
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