What primary machines that came before the elevator were used to accomplish a similar task?

Before elevators were invented, various machines were used to move people and goods vertically. The most notable among these were the hoist and the lift, which utilized simple pulley systems to raise and lower heavy loads. In ancient Rome, for example, cranes and winches powered by animals or humans were commonly employed in construction and mining. Additionally, stairways and ramps provided alternative means for vertical movement, though they required more effort and time compared to mechanical solutions.