What do you think could be the earliest time period when Electricity at least to the level of the Voltaic Pile and maybe a few other simple early uses, like dissociation of water and wired telegraphy with electromagnets could plausibly be put to use?
I have the impression that basic direct current electricity and the chemical battery isn't too hard to discover once you have at least basic metalsmithing and you somehow figure out how to make current flow, actually it seems to be less big of a deal than the Watt steam engine, but I once read an opinion here that some kind of mechanical-driven industrial revolution, like the OTL age of steam is first required, since hand-made electric wire, like that which was used to make medieval chain mail and pendants was too impure to act as a good conductor.
What do you think, what time period and culture could first discover electricity at least to a 1800-1820s level and how would it alter the course of history?