Horses, Asses or Oxen...humans
yes they came before steam engines
Before electricity, Coal was used for heat. Coal heat was used to create steam for steam engines on railroads and ships in transportation.
The first steam engines used for pumping water out of mines.
I believe steam engines are still widely used in China
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Yes, turbines used today are radial steam engines.
The first steam engines used for pumping water out of mines.
Before the internal combustion engine, various forms of mechanical propulsion were used, such as steam engines, horse-drawn carriages, and sailboats. These technologies powered transportation and machinery in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Steam was the first practical (useable, reliable) energy source to be used in self-propelled vehicles.................Steam engines were invented before internal combustion engines (gasoline, diesel, etc.). Steam can be made by burning wood or coal, easily available before the days of refining crude oil into gasoline, etc.
Steam engines presently produce more power than all other types of engines combined. Most steam engines take the form of the steam turbine engine. The steam turbine is responsible for generating about 86% of the electric power used on this planet. Reciprocating steam engines are still in use for limited applications, but are generally considered obsolete. Steam engines, either the piston or turbine type were used on most big ships until recently, and there are still a few steam locomotives about.
Steam engines.
Lubrication of steam engines and other mechanical devices, and certain oils were used to light homes and heat them.