Evolution of Communication

Cave Paintings

30,000 BCE

The oldest form of symbols used for communication. They were created to mark a territory or to record events. The oldest cave painting was spotted around 30.000 B.C.

Postal System

24,000 BCE

The first postal system was organized in Egypt in 24,000 B.C. Postal systems were also organized in Persia, China, India, and Rome. In 1653, Frenchman Da Valayer started a postal system in Paris that used mailboxes and delivery of paid envelopes.

Petroglyphs

10,000 BCE

Created around 10.000 B.C. Also known as rock carvings or rock art. They were made by chipping at a rock surface with a stone chisel and hammer stone. Made by Spanish settlers.

Pictograms

9000 BCE

Created around 9,000 B.C. To tell stories or to be used as a secret code. Created in the prehistoric age to ancient Egypt.

Ideograms

9000 BCE

Created around 9.000 B.C. It’s a symbol that represents an idea rather than letters to form a word. Some ideograms are Egyptian hieroglyphics and Chinese characters.

Smoke Signals

200 BCE

Smoke Signals are used to send messages in China. In 200 B.C., guards used smoke signals on the Great Wall of China. In 150 B.C. it was also used to represent the alphabet.

Carrier Pigeons

30 BCE

Over 2,000 years ago. Romans used pigeons to send primary messages to soldiers. Merchants used pigeons as a postal service because they had a good sense of direction.

Newspaper

1440

In 1440, German Johannes Gutenberg developed the printing press system. This wildly changed communication forever. The first English language newspaper was published in 1620.

Radio

1830

In the 1830’s scientists Maxwell and Hughes developed the theory of electromagnetism. Tesla used wireless power in 1893. In the early 20th century, radio broadcasting began.

Telegraph

1830

Samuel Morse invented the Morse Code. The code transmitted through a series of clicks, tones, and lights. In 1830, Morse transmitted Morse Code using telegraphy technology.

Telephone

1876

The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876. It converts sound into an electrical signal called a liquid transmitter. This created a strong electric signal that traveled down a wire to a receiver where the sounds were re-created.

Television

1927

Television became a mode of direct communication to large groups of people or a mass audience. It was invented by a group of really smart people, not just one person. The first TV was made in 1927.

Internet

1983

Evan Andrews and a bunch of other scientists created the first working internet called ARPANET in the late 1960’s. ARPANET delivered its first message on October 29, 1969. Later in 1990, Tim Burners-Lee invented the World Wide Web.