History of electromagnetic theory

The history of electromagnetic theory begins with ancient measures to deal with atmospheric electricity, in particular lightning. People then had little understanding of electricity, and were unable to scientifically explain the phenomena. In the 19th century there was a unification of the history of electric theory with the history of magnetic theory. It became clear that electricity should be treated jointly with magnetism, because wherever charges are in motion electric current results and, magnetism is due to electric current. The source term for electric field is electric charge where as that for magnetic field is electric current( charges in motion). Magnetism was not fully explained until the idea of magnetic induction was developed. Electricity was not fully explained until the idea of electric charge was developed.

Ancient and classical history

The knowledge of static electricity dates back to the earliest civilizations, but for millennia it remained merely an interesting and mystifying phenomenon, without a theory to explain its behavior and often confused with magnetism. The ancients were acquainted with rather curious properties possessed by two minerals, amber (Greek: ἤλεκτρον, electron) and magnetic iron ore (Greek: Μάγνης λίθος, Magnes lithos, "the Magnesian stone, lodestone"). Amber, when rubbed, attracts light bodies; magnetic iron ore has the power of attracting iron.