The History of the Internet:

From Military Network to Global Phenomenon

We take the internet for granted these days, but how the heck did it all get started? How did we get to where we are now? Believe it or not, it started as a small military experiment and evolved into the most distracting form of media possible. It started as a limited network, connecting a handful of research computers. However, it’s grown into a system that has fundamentally changed how we communicate, work, learn, and live.

In the shadow of the Cold War, the United States Department of Defence sought a communication system to survive a nuclear attack.

This need gave birth to ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) in 1969, laying the groundwork for what would eventually become the internet we know today. Those first connections between four university computers were humble beginnings for a system that now links billions of devices worldwide. The journey from ARPANET to today’s Internet is a fascinating story of innovation, visionary thinking, and unexpected turns. It’s a tale of brilliant minds collaborating across borders and overcoming technical challenges. No single inventor or company created the Internet.

It evolved through the contributions of countless scientists, engineers, programmers, and entrepreneurs who built upon each other’s work. As we detail the history of the internet, we’ll share how key technologies like TCP/IP protocols, the World Wide Web, browsers, and search engines emerged. We’ll see how the Internet went from a text-based academic tool to a rich media experience accessible to anyone with a connection.