From Scrolls to Screens: How Media Shape Our Understanding

THE HISTORY OF NEW MEDIA Long before digital screens and global connectivity, communication began with oral storytelling. In prehistoric times, people conveyed their traditions, warnings, and experiences through spoken word and cave paintings. These early methods were the first steps toward structured media. Around 3000 BCE, civilizations such as the Sumerians and Egyptians revolutionized information sharing by developing writing systems like cuneiform and hieroglyphics. This leap allowed information to be recorded, preserved, and shared across time and space. In the 15th century, Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, a pivotal moment in media history. It enabled the mass production of books and pamphlets, making written knowledge more accessible and promoting literacy across Europe. It laid the groundwork for the first true information revolution. The 17th to 19th centuries saw the emergence of newspapers, o...