Historical context’s summary

---

Media had been existing since so long as we all know. However, its context changed by time, this chapter introduces the historical context of media and its major events and trends that changed by time.

Eight milestones played a huge role in the evolution of human communication. The first one mentioned in the chapter is language. No one knows for sure how did language develop as they are many theories but none seems to be accurate. However, everyone agrees that language helped a lot in the advancement of the early civilization.

The second important milestone is writing. They were two problems to solve before stating the wring system: the surface on which to write and the symbols to use. The two problems were solved and the writing arrival made the past society divide for the first time. Before the communication skill level of people was almost the same, this changed since not everyone could read and write. Thus, people who did read and write, had more power thanks to the information they had access to. Another writing consequence was the creation of empires. Organization became much easier thus governmental work became easier and helped increase the country’s treasury. Printing also came along as a helping factor, where it made more people get the information and helped spread knowledge.

The fourth milestone in the evolution of human communication is telegraph and telephone. They were the first media sources to need electricity. The telegraph helped helped the newspapers in publishing more timely while the phone made people communicate with each other thanks network. Photography helped in the development too by providing a better way of pictographic communication. It had an impact on art and made magazines and newspaper even more fun to read. Next was the birth of television and radio. It transferred news and brought leisure and entertainment to its users. It became example of the digital revolution that changed the method of information transmission. Next came the wireless handheld media in which cellphones are the most dominant. Where teens now are addicted and use them as the primary way of socialization.

It’s true that new media is changing by time but it doesn’t mean that it replaces the old media. Media inventions have accelerated in the recent years which is why it’s hard to predict what media trend will come out next.