Before the emergence of oil, the world was ruled by whale oil!

I have always been amazed at how people lived in the past. Imagine — no oil, no electricity, and the whole world was lit by fat extracted from huge sea creatures! Whale oil was true gold from the 16th to the 20th century, damn it! I often think about what it was like for hunters to risk their lives in the open sea for this "liquid gold".

It was mainly extracted from sperm whales and baleen whales - poor creatures. Their fat not only illuminated homes but also lubricated machinery and was even used in the production of soap and explosives. The whole world revolved around this resource!

In the 16th century, whale lamps burned in homes — slowly, but brightly. Streets, houses, lighthouses — everything was illuminated thanks to the slaughter of these magnificent creatures. "Train oil" from baleen whales was particularly valued. It makes me shudder to think of how many whales died just so people could see in the dark.

By the 17th century, greedy industrialists had figured out how to use Whale fat for soap making. The fatty composition was ideal for this. Whaling fleets spread all over the world — everyone needed both light and cleanliness. Ha, what irony — entire populations of animals were destroyed for the sake of cleanliness!

The Industrial Revolution only increased demand! Sperm whale oil turned out to be an excellent lubricant for high-pressure machinery. Factories operated on whale fat! Textile workers, tanners — everyone depended on this resource. I feel sick thinking about how thoughtless consumers our ancestors were.

By the 20th century, this precious resource had evolved - now it was used to make margarine, soap, and even components for explosives during the world wars. Liver fat was used as a source of vitamin D. It's amazing how one substance found so many applications!

When petroleum products and vegetable oils appeared, whales finally breathed a sigh of relief. Kerosene replaced fat in lamps, and new lubricants emerged. By the mid-20th century, even the dullest industrialists realized that whale populations were on the brink of extinction. The 1986 ban on commercial whaling put an end to this bloody era.

Now, looking back, I see what a terrible price the oceans have paid for our "progress". Yes, whale oil was important, but was it worth the near-total extermination of these amazing creatures? Let's at least stop repeating the mistakes of the past and start taking care of our planet before it is too late!