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Period: Jan 1, 610 to Jan 1, 1200
Middle Age book production is monopolized by monasteries
"From the early seventh century until roughly the year 1200 monastic scriptoria and other ecclesiastic establishments remained essentially the only customers for books, and they had a virtual monopoly on manuscript book production." From http://www.historyofinformation.com/index.php?era=600 -
Jan 1, 611
Muhammad is claimed to experience the vision that would then become the Qu'ran
"Muslims say that in 611, while meditating in a cave near Mecca, Muhammad experienced a vision. Later he described the experience to those close to him as a visit from the Angel Gabriel, who commanded him to memorize and recite the verses later collected as the Qur'an." From http://www.historyofinformation.com/index.php?era=600 -
Jan 1, 1012
Invention of the first pinhole camera (camera obscura)
The first camera obscura was built by an Iraqi scientist named Abu Ali Al-Hasan Ibn al-Haytham. This was based on technology first explored by Aristotle. Image from: http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Camera_obscura_box.jpg -
Jan 1, 1200
Postal System created between the Mongol Empire and China
Genghis Khan installed an empire-wide messenger and postal station system named Örtöö within the Mongol Empire. Postal stations were used for the transmission and delivery of official mail, and also were available for traveling officials, military men, and foreign dignitaries. These stations aided and facilitated the transport of foreign and domestic tribute, and trade in general. -
Jan 1, 1450
Gutenberg's Printing Press was developed
In around 1450 a German man named Johannes Gutenberg invented the first printing press with movable metal type. The technology used for the press was very similar to that of the Rhine Valley screw type wine presses. Image at http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/history_knowledge/printpress.jpg -
Period: Jan 27, 1453 to Jan 27, 1500
Creation of the Inca Road System
"The Inca Road system was the most extensive among the many roads and trails that were constructed in pre-Columbian South America.It went across the Andes mountains and reached heights of over 5,000 m above sea level. The Inca road system covered approximately 22,500 km and provided access to over three million km² of territory."
From http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inca_road_system -
First Photographic Image
In 1814 a Frenchman named Joseph Nicéphore Niépce achieved the first photographic image. Image from http://www.niepce.com/pagus/pagus-inv.html -
The first working electic telegraph is created
"Francis Ronalds built the first working electrostatic telegraph, the first electric" medium for communication.Ronalds's device involved two synchronized clocks whose dials were marked with the letters of the alphabet; instead of hands, each clock had a rotating disk with a notch cut into it so that only one letter on the clock face was visible at a time." From http://www.acmi.net.au/AIC/RONALDS_BIO.html -
Invention of Morse Code
In 1835 Samuel Morse invented the Morse Code, a system of transmitting text without using letters, but rather combinations tones, lights, or clicks. From this initial invention stemmed the International Morse Code, a standardized selection of short and long signals called "dots" and "dashes" or "dis" and "dahs". Image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:International_Morse_Code.svg -
Implementation of the Penny Post
Rowland Hill circulated his pamphlet, Post Office Reform: its Importance and Practicability, discussing the reform of the postal service.
The penny post required the adoption of four novel principles: (1) prepayment of postage, (2) payment by weight instead of by the number of sheets, (3) the use of envelope, (4) the use of adhesive stamps on letters." From http://www.victorianschool.co.uk/images/stamps/Penny_black.jpg -
Invention of the Phonograph
In 1877 Thomas Edison patented the phonograph. This device utilized a wax cylinder to record and reproduce sounds. Prior to this development, the technology to record sounds had already been mastered, however, this was the first device that was able to both record and reproduce the recordings. Image at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EdisonPhonograph.jpg -
Grover Cleveland Marries Frances Folsom
Fortynine-year-old President Grover Cleveland married 21-year-old Frances Folsom. Journalists proceeded to cover all intimate details of the couples affairs, transforming the notion of the President into one of celebrity for the first time. Image: http://womenshistory.about.com/od/firstladiesus/ig/First-Ladies-Picture-Gallery/Cleveland-Wedding.htm -
The assasination of William McKinely
On September 16, 1901 William McKinely was shot and killed by Leon Czol gosz. This event propelled the unelected Theodore Roosevelt into the presidency of the United States. Roosevelt welcomed media attention and engaged openly with journalists. This was unheard of with any of his predecessors. Image: http://www.merkspages.com/APUSH/progressive_movement_and_nat_files/image003.jpg -
Stubblefield patents wirless telephony
Nathan Stubblefield demonstrates a voice wireless system in 1892 and files for patent for “wireless telephony” in 1908. Image: http://www.nathanstubblefield.com/images/wireless_receiver.gif -
Creation of the Committe on Public Information
The Woodrow administration created the Committee on Public Information, first headed by George Creel, on . This was an independent agency of the government of the United States created to influence U.S. public opinion regarding American participation in World War I. For just more than 28 months, from April 13, 1917, to August 21, 1919, it used every medium available to create enthusiasm for the war effort and enlist public support against foreign attempts to undercut America's war aims. -
The passing of the Sedition Act of 1918
This act stated that Americans were prohibited from using "disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language" about the US government, flag, or armed forces. -
Founding of the American Civil LIberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a nonpartisan non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States."[5] It works through litigation, lobbying, and community education. (Founded in 1920 by Crystal Eastman, Roger Baldwin and Walter Nelles) -
The invention of the floppy disk
In 1971 floppy disks, then called memory disks were invented by Alan Shugart under the brand Memorex. For most of the 1970s and 1980s the floppy drive was the primary storage device for word processors and microcomputers. Image from: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/Floppy_disk8inch.jpg -
Invention of the Sony Walkman
Music became truly portable for the first time with the invention of the iconic Sony Walkman in July of 1979. The technology behind the Walkman is credited to German inventor, Andreas Pavel. Image from http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/poplife/sites/tampabay.com.blogs.poplife/files/images/typepad-legacy-files/48957.6a00d83451b05569e2011570edab50970b-pi.jpg -
Apple Macintosh was released
In January of 1984, under the direction of Steve Jobs, Apple released its Macintosh computer and the rivalry was born. Image from http://oldcomputers.net/pics/macintosh.jpg -
Wikipedia is created
Wikipedia was formally launched on 15 January 2001 by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger, using the concept and technology of a wiki pioneered by Ward Cunningham. -
Google Earth begins
In 2005 Google Earth, a map service using satelite imaging, was released and added to the service provided by Google. -
The 1st Video was uploaded to Youtube
On April 23, 2005 a video titled "Me at the Zoo," became the first video ever uploaded on Youtube,com. -
“Implications of Historical Trends in the Electrical Efficiency of Computing" is published
Energy and environmental scientist Jonathan Koomey of Stanford University, and Stephen Berard, Maria Sanchez, and Henry Wong published “Implications of Historical Trends in the Electrical Efficiency of Computing” Annals of the History of Computing, 33, no. 3, 46-54. This historical paper was highly unusual for its enunciation of a predictive trend in computing technology labeled by the press as "Koomey's Law. -
The Saint John's Bible is completed
The Saint John's Bible, first complete illuminated manuscript of the Bible commissioned by a Benedictine Monastery since the invention of printing by movable type, was completed for St. John's Abbey and University in May 2011. Image from http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Eiwce13X738/SbO1XSVnM6I/AAAAAAAAGHc/rOdZUziYyF0/s400/SaintJohnsBible.jpg -
Ebooks outsell print books on Amazon.com
Ebooks outsell print books on Amazon.com -
Steve Jobs Dies
CEO of the wildy successful Apple Corportation, Steve Jobs, dies from complications caused by pancreatic cancer at the age of 56.
Image from http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/epicenter/2011/08/jobs1984.jpg -
Evolution of Google
The Google search engine evolves from simply content-based functioning to a mechanism that "understands" people and relationships with Social Search. Image from http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/2011/05/googlelogoa_a_l.jpg
