This a random thought bunny that popped into my head earlier after I sat without power for 6 hours, it came on for less time than it took to boil a kettle and the kicked off for another 3 hour stretch.
What is the EARLIEST (I assume it won't be before thr 1750s) that electricity/telephones could be discovered/invented? From what I recall from high school physics, Volta, Ben Franklin and some other guy (think it was the one they named ampères after?) were doing experiments with electricity.
As to telephones, well, I'll profess ignorance beyond knowing Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone and never called his wife or mom because both were deaf (apparently). But what would be the earliest a similar communication device could be invented?
And more importantly, how would this change the world?