The Safety of Light: A Short History of Light in Public Spaces

Lighting through the ages. Antiquity: 1. Prehistory. – 2-3. Egyptian – 4-5. Assyrian. 6-13. Roman. – 14-15. Carthaginian. – 16-17. Merovingian period. – Middle age and modern times: 19-20. 11th century. – 21. 12th century. – 22. 13th century. – 23-24. 14th century. – 25-26-27. 15th century. – 28. 16th century. – 29. 17th century. – 30-31. 18th century. – Contemporary period: 32. (original) Argand lamp. – 33-34. (Antoine Quinquet's improved) Argand lamp. – 35. Stephenson (Geordie) lamp (mines). – 36. Street light. – 37. Davy lamp. – 38. Air-fed wick lamp (theatre). – 39. Railway lamp. – 40. Carcel lamp. – 41. Gasifier. – 42. Auer (gas) lamp with gas mantle. – 43. Gas street lighting (regular burner). – 44. Gas street lighting (high intensity burner). – 45. Auer (petrol) lamp. – 46. (Air-fed) petrol lamp. – 47. Incandescent (electricity). – 48. Lighthouse (electricity). – 49. Mine lamp (electricity). – 50. Incandescent (electricity) [street light]. – 51. Arc light (electricity). – 52. Acetylene lamp (burner). – 53. Acetylene lamp (bycicle). – 54. Acetylene lamp (lamp). – Japan: 55. Street light. – 56. Transportation (rickshaw). – 57. Lantern for funerals. – 58. Portable lantern.. Image © Public domain via Wikipedia

The simple activity of taking a walk in the evening can easily turn from a relaxing leisurely activity to a dangerous endeavor by removing just one element from the streetscape: public lighting. While not often recognized as defining aspect of urban environments, artificial illumination has played an essential role in defining the character of modern cities. Crime control, the appeal of nightlife, the rise of the shop window, revolutionary movements, utopias, and ideals of social equity are all concepts whose development is tightly linked to the history of public lighting. Technological advancements over the past centuries have continuously shaped the appearance and symbolism of streetlamps. Still, the this element has remains a constant throughout its history.

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