What was Lighting in the middle ages?

Answer 1

The word illumination correctly refers to a picture that includes gold leaf, either as a background to the picture or in the details of the design (sometimes both). The gold picks up and reflects any light and appears to shine of its own accord - hence it "illuminates" the page.

An initial letter, for example, that is decorated with colours and interwoven designs but no gold leaf is termed "historiated" or simply "decorated".

See links below for images:

Answer 2

Since they didn't have electricity, they used fire, whether it was a small one on a stick (a torch) or a big one in a hole in the wall (a hearth).