Timeline
Inventions · 1809 · 1750 – 1900

electric light (Humphry Davy's arc lamp) — introduced 1809

electric light (Humphry Davy's arc lamp) arrived in 1809, during the Industrial Age (19th century). It expanded what people could build, measure, or communicate, and quickly reshaped daily life.

Year

1809

Century

19th century

Era

Industrial Age

Category

Inventions

Age today

161 yrs ago

Context

Industrial Age — Steam, revolutions, and the modern world takes shape. That's about 161 years ago, roughly 2 centuries back. Around the same time, the world was also seeing Felix Mendelssohn (1809) and Christopher Houston Carson (1809).

Why it matters

electric light (Humphry Davy's arc lamp) mattered because it changed what was possible. New tools shift habits, industries, and even how people see the world — and this one is remembered for exactly that reason.

Did you know?

Just 0 years after, Felix Mendelssohn (1809) was also making headlines — a reminder how much history can compress into a single decade.

Era

Industrial Age

Steam, revolutions, and the modern world takes shape.

Category

Inventions

Inventions are the tools and technologies that changed what humans could do — from wheels and printing presses to satellites and smartphones.

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Contemporary events

What else was happening in the world around this time.

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About this lesson. Overview, context, and “Why it matters” are generated summaries written for study and gameplay. Dates and category placement come from the Timeline question bank[1]; era descriptions are adapted from standard historical periodisation[2]. For primary sources and in-depth reading, use the references below.

  1. Timeline question bank — © the game's original author, used with permission.
  2. Era framework based on Wikipedia's Human history overview, CC BY-SA 4.0.

    Educational content notice

    Lessons are for general historical education, not professional advice. Some entries touch on wars, violence, or other sensitive events — appropriate for ages 9+. External links open in your browser and are not controlled by Timeline.

    Quick check

    Which of these happened in 1809?

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