Electricity itself was not invented; it has always existed in nature. The earliest known discovery related to electricity dates back about 3000 years ago with the ancient Greeks, who observed static electricity by rubbing amber (fossilized tree sap) against wool, causing lightweight objects to stick to it. The word "electricity" comes from the Greek word for amber, "elektron." Major developments in understanding and harnessing electricity happened mostly from the 17th century onward. In 1600, English scientist William Gilbert published work on electricity and magnetism and coined the term "electricus" to describe the effect seen with amber. Benjamin Franklin famously experimented with electricity in the 1740s, including his kite experiment in 1752 that demonstrated lightning is electrical in nature. In 1821, Michael Faraday discovered the principle behind generating electrical current through electromagnetic induction, forming the basis of how electricity is produced today. Alessandro Volta invented the electric battery (voltaic pile) around 1800, enabling chemical generation of electricity. Humans began harnessing electricity for practical use primarily in the 18th and 19th centuries, with inventions like the electric motor and the electric battery. The first home powered by hydroelectricity was in 1882 in the United States. In summary:

• Electricity (static electricity) was first observed by the ancient Greeks around 3000 years ago.
• The term and formal study began around 1600 by William Gilbert.
• Important experimental milestones include Benjamin Franklin's kite experiment (1752), Alessandro Volta's battery (1800), and Michael Faraday's electromagnetic induction (1821).
• Electricity started being harnessed for practical use in the 18th and 19th centuries, becoming integral to modern life by the late 1800s.