Timeline of Media

  • 30,000 BCE

    Prehistoric Age Cave Paintings

    Prehistoric Age Cave Paintings
    Early humans used stones, charcoal, and natural pigments to draw on cave walls. These paintings depicted animals, hunting scenes, and rituals. They were likely used for storytelling, spiritual purposes, or to pass down knowledge
  • Period: 30,000 BCE to 1700 BCE

    Prehistoric Age

  • 10,000 BCE

    Petroglyphs

    Petroglyphs
    Petroglyphs were carved or etched into stone surfaces using sharp tools. These engravings included symbols, maps, and abstract shapes, marking an evolution toward symbolic communication.
  • 3000 BCE

    Clay Tablet

    Clay Tablet
    A small, solid, flat, and portable writing surface made from clay that was used by ancient Mesopotamians to record documents
  • 2500 BCE

    Papyrus

    Papyrus
    Egyptians invented papyrus, a lightweight and portable writing surface made from the papyrus plant. It replaced heavier mediums like stone or clay and allowed for easier documentation of culture, religion, and administration.
  • 1440

    Industrial Age

    Industrial Age
    Printing Press, invented by Johannes Gutenberg the printing press was revolutionary invention that spread information more
  • Period: 1440 to

    Industrial Age

  • Telegraph

    Telegraph
    Invented by Samuel Morse, the telegraph allowed messages to be transmitted quickly over long distances using Morse Code. This marked the beginning of long-distance communication.
  • Radio

    Radio
    Guglielmo Marconi developed the first wireless telegraphy system, which evolved into radio broadcasting. By the 1920s, radios became a household item for news and entertainment.
  • Electronic Age

    Electronic Age
    Early computers like ENIAC were massive machines built for military and scientific purposes. These computers laid the foundation for modern computing.
  • Period: to

    Electronic Age

  • Transistor Radios

    Transistor Radios
    Transistors made radios smaller, cheaper, and portable, allowing people to listen to music and news anywhere.
  • ARPANET

    ARPANET
    The U.S. Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) was the first public packet-switched computer network. It was first used in 1969 and finally decommissioned in 1989. ARPANET's main use was for academic and research purposes. Considered as the foundation of the Internet.
  • Personal Computers (PC)

    Personal Computers (PC)
    The Apple 1 and other personal computers made computing available to ordinary households, paving the way for widespread digital innovation.
  • Period: to

    Digital Age

  • Digital Age

    Digital Age
    The CD (Compact Discs) was introduced as a new digital audio format. It offered superior sound quality and durability compared to vinyl records and cassette tapes. While initially expensive, CDs quickly gained popularity and eventually surpassed vinyl as the dominant music format.
  • World Wide Web (www)

    World Wide Web (www)
    Tim Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web, making the internet accessible to the public. This ushered in the age of websites, online communication, and global connectivity.
  • Smartphones and Streaming

    Smartphones and Streaming
    Smartphones became all-in-one devices for communication, entertainment, and work. Streaming services like Netflix and Spotify replaced traditional media like cable TV and CDs.
  • AI and Virtual Reality

    AI and Virtual Reality
    AI now powers media recommendations, voice assistants, and content creation. Virtual and augmented reality are enhancing entertainment, education, and communication.