General Timeline: Communications History

Early Communication Media

Cautionary note: This is only a general outline and does not include all of the significant events taking place in these time periods. It should not be relied upon as a study guide.

50,000+ BC

Toolmaking and Primitive Art

3500 BC

Clay tablets and early evidence of writing: Pictographics, Ideographics, Phonetics

2500 BC

Papyrus replaces clay tablets

1500 BC

Phonetic alphabet

150 BC

Early parchment from animal skin

100 BC

23-letter Roman alphabet

100 AD

Papermaking in China; books replace scrolls by 150 AD

700 AD

Arabs carry Chinese techniques for paper making to Europe.

1000 AD

Movable clay type in China. Movable clay-type press by 1045 AD.

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The Printing Revolution

1400 AD

Movable metal type in Asia.

1450 AD

Movable metal (lead) type and new press in Germany, perfected by Johan Gutenberg

1455 AD

First Bible published in Germany

1476 AD

First print shop in England. Caxton publishes majority of his books in English, which marks beginning of decline of Latin throughout Europe.

1475-1525 AD

Rapid dissemination of printing technology in Europe; expansion of literacy as books are printed in more and more European languages. Spanish court publishes Columbus letter.

1600-1620 AD

First newspapers appear in Germany, France; and Belgium. Broadsides and newsheets begin in Britain.

1638 AD

First printing press arrives in American colonies.

1644 AD

John Milton publishes Areopagitica, early plea for freedom of the press as part of freedom of expression.

1702 AD

The Daily Courant, first English-language daily newspaper, published in London. Rapid dissemination of newspaper broadsheets, pamphlets, tracts and other printed materials in Europe and the Americas.

1709 AD

First modern copyright act, in England

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The American Revolution

1765

Passage of the Stamp Act in Britain

1776

Declaration of Independence in American colonies

1787

Constitutional Convention

1791

First 10 Amendments to the U.S. Constitution (Bill of Rights).

 1798

Alien and Sedition Acts

1800

Election of Thomas Jefferson