Before Written Language:
* Oral communication: This was the primary means of communication. People used spoken language, gestures, facial expressions, and body language to convey ideas and emotions.
* Visual communication: People used cave paintings, rock carvings, and other visual symbols to represent stories, beliefs, and events.
* Sign language: Some communities, especially those with hearing impairments, used sign language to communicate.
With Written Language:
* Written language: The development of writing systems revolutionized communication. This allowed people to record information, transmit ideas over long distances, and pass down knowledge across generations. Early forms of writing included hieroglyphs, cuneiform, and alphabets.
* Messenger systems: People used messengers to deliver messages over land and sea. This included using runners, couriers, and even pigeons (with carrier pigeons).
* Smoke signals: Some cultures used smoke signals to communicate over long distances.
* Drumming: Certain cultures used drum rhythms to convey messages, particularly in forested or jungle environments.
More Modern Times:
* Printing press: The invention of the printing press in the 15th century made it possible to mass-produce written materials, leading to the spread of knowledge and ideas.
* Telegraph: In the 19th century, the telegraph revolutionized communication by enabling instant transmission of messages across long distances.
* Telephone: The invention of the telephone in the late 19th century allowed for real-time voice communication.
* Radio: Radio broadcasting in the early 20th century brought information and entertainment to a wide audience.
* Television: Television, introduced in the mid-20th century, provided visual and auditory communication.
Today:
* Internet and mobile phones: The internet and mobile phones have dramatically changed communication. They allow for instant and global communication, and the sharing of information and ideas in unprecedented ways.
It's important to remember that communication has always been a dynamic and evolving process, and different cultures have developed their own unique ways of expressing themselves.