Instead of electricity, there were kerosene lanterns.是什么意思？

Instead of electricity, there were kerosene lanterns.

没有电, 有煤油灯。

instead

adv. 代替，顶替，反而，反倒；

例句
But instead of ending in agreement, the talks broke up in acrimony at the end of the week.
但是到这个周末，谈判非但没有达成协议反而在唇枪舌剑中不欢而散。

of

prep. 关于，属于…的，由…制成；aux. 助动词 [非标准用语、方言] =have [主用于虚拟语气]；

例句
He did have a real knowledge of the country...
他对该国的确知之甚多。

electricity

n. 电力，电流，静电，高涨的情绪，紧张；

例句
There was an electricity black-out in a large area in the north of the country.
该国北部大片地区断电。

there

adv. 在那里，那里，在那一点上；pron. 表示某物或某人的存在或某事的发生（常用作be, seem或appear的主语）；int. （表示满足、烦恼）你瞧，好啦，得啦；

例句
If nature abhors a vacuum, journalists abhor a transition, when there is little news to cover.
好比自然界拒绝真空一样，新闻工作者则厌恶没有多少新闻可供报道的过渡时期。

were

be的过去时复数和第二人称单数形式，有时代替 was,用于条件从句、动词 wish 之后等；

例句
Shops, houses, and vehicles were set ablaze.
店铺、房子和车辆全都陷于火海。

kerosene

n. 煤油，火油，灯油，洋油；

例句
A leakage of kerosene has polluted water supplies...
泄漏的煤油污染了水源。

lanterns

n. 灯笼( lantern的名词复数 )，灯塔；

例句
Lingtai lanterns as a unique arts and crafts, are sold and outside the province, very popular.
灵台宫灯成为一种独特的民间工艺, 远销省内外, 很受欢迎.