#internet-history

#internet-history

The Atlantic launched its website in November 1995, 138 years after it first went into print. The magazine began in response to one information revolution; the website appeared at the dawn of another. Now, 30 years on from the launch, you can buy a copy of the first printed edition of the magazine on eBay, but you can't find much of the original website. The internet, notable for remembering just about everything, seems to have forgotten that particular piece of its own history.

The internet wasn't born whole—it came together from parts. Most know of ARPANET, the internet's most famous precursor, but it was always limited strictly to government use.

The early promise of Ask Jeeves resonated well with users seeking an organized, conversational approach to web searches; it thrived until the dot-com bubble burst.

Leeroy Jenkins became an internet icon, symbolizing impulsive, adventurous behavior, and helped solidify World of Warcraft's place in modern digital culture.