How did large congregations of people hear speeches (i.e. Lincoln’s address, and countless other older speeches) without the use of microphones?

Question

How did large congregations of people hear speeches (i.e. Lincoln’s address, and countless other older speeches) without the use of microphones?

In: Technology

Answer 1

I always get a giggle out of those pre-battle scenes where the hero/commander rides up and down the front line, encouraging the troops with a perfectly written charismatic speech.

Men are lined up 100 rows deep and 1000 columns wide. But nobody can hear him beyond row three and since he’s riding up and down the line, all soldiers in row 1 can hear is garbled: “Men! Today we… hacked to death but… they cannot take… Forgotten!”