Throughout the course of history, items that were once considered luxurious have become commonplace as technology advances, making them available to more people. Here are 10 everyday items that were once considered luxury items, but are now a part of our everyday lives:
10- Candles
Before the invention of electricity, candles were one of the few sources of light available. This meant that to use a candle, you had to have access to a source of wax and wicks, as well as something to burn the wax in. The wealthy would often use tallow or beeswax candles in their homes, while the less fortunate would use tallow candles made from animal fat.
Candles made from rendered animal fat were the cheapest option. It produced black smoke, however, so it was not the most desirable material. Beeswax was the most expensive option, but it burned the brightest and had a pleasant scent.
Due to their high cost, candles were primarily used for their light and not their heat. People used layers of clothing and blankets to keep warm. They would often go to bed early, since the cost of burning candles all night was too high for most people.
9- Voting
Photo Credit: Churchofjesuschrist
Voting has long been a fundamental right that has helped to shape and form the democracies of the world we live in today. But achieving this right was not always easy, and before it was granted to many, some everyday items were considered a luxury.
In the United States, the right to vote was restricted to white men of property until the 19th century. This meant that only a small portion of the population was able to cast a ballot. Women, non-white people, and those without property were excluded from the voting process for many years.
In addition, access to education was also seen as a luxury for those excluded from voting. Not being able to vote also meant that certain segments of the population were unable to access the education necessary to gain employment or even start a business.
8- Salt
Salt is one of the most common items found in kitchens around the world. It’s used to enhance flavor and preserves food. But did you know that salt used to be an incredibly valuable commodity? Before the advent of mechanized production and modern transportation, salt was an incredibly rare and expensive resource.
In the days of ancient Rome, salt was a valuable item of trade, so much so that it was sometimes used to pay wages. Roman soldiers were even sometimes paid in salt instead of money. This was the origin of the phrase “not worth his salt”, meaning that someone was not worth the amount of money they were paid.
7- Camera
Photo Credit: Redsharknews
In the modern world, it’s easy to take for granted the numerous gadgets and devices that make our lives easier. Just a few decades ago, what we now consider everyday items were considered luxury items. Cameras, for example, were once a privilege reserved only for the wealthy.
Today, digital cameras are ubiquitous, ranging from inexpensive point-and-shoots to sophisticated DSLRs. But before the digital age, cameras were entirely mechanical and relied on film to capture and store images. The earliest form of the camera was the camera obscura.
In 1888, George Eastman revolutionized photography by introducing the Kodak camera. The Kodak was the first camera to use a roll of film, allowing photographers to take an entire series of photos without having to reload each time. From there, cameras quickly advanced, incorporating new features such as flashbulbs and viewfinders.
6- Healthcare
Before the advances in healthcare that we’ve seen in recent decades, access to basic medical care was often a luxury. People living in the past had to make do with whatever treatments were available, be it a homegrown remedy or something a local healer could offer. In many cases, those treatments weren’t effective and people suffered needlessly.
In recent decades, though, advances in healthcare have made medical care more accessible to all. From the development of new treatments to the expansion of health insurance, it’s now easier than ever to get the care you need.
5- Aluminium
From the 17th century onwards, aluminum was considered a rare and expensive material used primarily for decorative purposes. Aluminum was not only expensive to produce, but it was also difficult to extract from its ore. This meant that products made from aluminum were usually expensive and only used by the upper echelons of society. In fact, its cost was greater than that of gold or silver. Its scarcity was due to the fact that it was difficult to extract from its ore.
However, in the present day, aluminum is much more accessible and affordable due to advances in the Hall-Héroult process. The process has become much more efficient and cost-effective, making aluminum much more accessible.
4- Spices
At one time, spices were so valuable that they were considered luxury items and often traded as currency. During the Middle Ages, spices were highly sought after in Europe, and the demand for them drove their prices so high that only the wealthy could afford them. It was common for kings and queens to possess a variety of exotic spices, which were used to flavor and preserve food, as well as for medicinal purposes.
Today, we are fortunate to have easy access to spices from all over the world at our local grocery store. But it wasn’t always so. In the past, obtaining spices from faraway places was a long, arduous journey. Merchants would often travel for months on end, braving the elements and dangerous beasts, just for a chance to acquire some of the coveted spices.
3- Radio
Radios were expensive and complicated machines in the early days. They were typically made of wood, brass and bakelite and featured intricate dials and knobs. The technology was still fairly new, so it took a lot of skill and know-how to operate the radio.
The cost of radios also made them a luxury item. By the late 1920s, only about one in ten households had a radio. Those who did had to pay for access to radio broadcasts, as well as for the radio itself.
2- Telephone
Photo Credit: CNN
For many of us, telephones have become an integral part of our everyday lives. We use them for everything from making quick calls to our friends and family to connecting with colleagues for work, to playing games with our friends. But in the days before smartphones, telephones were seen as a luxury item.
When the first phones hit the market, they were incredibly expensive and only available to those with a lot of money. Back then, these phones were seen as a status symbol, and only the wealthy had access to them. They were often made of wood or metal and featured intricate details that made them look expensive and luxurious.
1- Books
Before the invention of the printing press, books were produced by hand and were extremely expensive. This meant that only the wealthy could afford them. Books were also very rare and hard to come by. For example, during the Middle Ages, it was estimated that there were just over 30,000 books in all of Europe.
The invention of the printing press changed this drastically. It made the production of books much faster and more efficient. This made them more affordable and accessible to the general public. Suddenly, books were no longer a luxury item, but a necessity for any educated person.
