In the ancient times the lighting was based on the lighting power of fire. For this purpose mineral and vegetable oil, wax and animal fat were burned.
Up to 19th century, beside the use of mirrors for a better light diffusion, there weren’t substantial technical improvements. It was with the finding of the lighting gas (by Lebon in 1786) that lighting had a qualitative leap.
To enlight Sassi houses candles and oil lamps were used up to 1902, when electricity became available with the provision of one lamp for each house and a lump-sum contract.