History Repeats Itself: 7 Milestones That Shape How We Communicate Today

Key Takeaways

• Communication has evolved through major revolutions that continue to influence today’s practices.

• Every technological advance—writing, printing, telegraph, telephone, television, internet—brought deep transformations.

• Today, social media and the constant flow of information demand reactive, transparent, and consistent communication.

• Understanding the history of communication helps institutions adopt a proactive, agile approach to reputation management and public relations.

At Aria Conseils, a strategic communications firm based in Montréal and Europe, we invite you on a fascinating journey through the history of communication. Get ready to discover how each innovation paved the way for today’s sophisticated financial communications.

1. The Birth of Writing: The First Revolution (c. 3300 BCE)

It all began in Sumer, Mesopotamia, with the emergence of cuneiform writing. Originally developed to record financial transactions (yes, really!), writing quickly transformed human communication—becoming the first form of official documentation.

2. The Roman Road Network: When Information Started Traveling Fast (c. 312 BCE) 

The Roman Empire, a pioneer in logistics strategy, built an impressive network of roads and a postal system to rapidly deliver official, financial, and strategic messages across the empire. Today’s instant communications owe much to this ancient infrastructure.

3. Gutenberg’s Printing Press: A Media Revolution (1440) 

With the invention of the printing press, Gutenberg democratized access to information. For the first time, financial and commercial news spread quickly across Europe, laying the foundation for modern financial communications and media relations as practiced in banks and insurance companies.

4. The Telegraph: The Birth of Instant Messaging (1844) 

Samuel Morse’s telegraph changed everything. News—especially financial and stock market updates—could travel in seconds rather than days or weeks. This innovation marked the start of real-time communication, a critical capability for today’s PR firms, particularly in crisis management for financial institutions.

5. Telephone and Radio: Giving Brands a Voice (1876–1920)

With Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone and the rise of radio, communication gained a human voice. For the first time, companies and financial institutions could directly reach clients and investors, marking the true beginning of modern public relations.

6. Television: Visibility and Reputation at Scale (1936)

Television brought a powerful visual component to reputation management and employer branding in finance. It quickly became a key channel to communicate crises, successes, and financial results to a broad audience.

7. Internet and Social Media: When Communication Goes Viral (1989–Today)

The birth of the internet, followed by social media, radically transformed communication. Today, reputation management for financial institutions requires agility, strategy, and digital expertise. In this new era, a single tweet can influence markets.

Takeaways for Financial Institutions

These successive revolutions highlight the critical need for proactive, tailored communications strategies—whether you're a bank, fintech, pension fund, or insurance company. Now more than ever, financial leaders and executives need strategic guidance to navigate a complex, hyper-reactive environment.

At Aria Conseils, with offices in Montréal and operations across Québec, Canada, the U.S., France, and the U.K., we draw on the past to guide you into the future.

Want to unlock your full communications potential? Get in touch with Aria Conseils today at info@ariaco.com.

About Aria Conseils

At Aria Conseils, we help financial brands resonate by combining strategic thinking with tactical execution. Based in Montréal, Québec, we support financial sector leaders across Canada, the U.S., and Europe, with a presence in Paris, Barcelona, and Lisbon. Our senior experts speak the language of finance and deliver insightful strategies with flawless execution. Discover how we can elevate your communications at ariaco.com.

Sources to learn more :

Books:

• Jean Bottéro, Mésopotamie : L'écriture, la raison et les dieux, Gallimard, 1997. (in French)

• Raymond Chevallier, Les Voies romaines, Picard, 1997. (in French)

• Lucien Febvre et Henri-Jean Martin, L'apparition du livre, Albin Michel, 1958. (in French)

• Kenneth Silverman, Lightning Man: The Accursed Life of Samuel F.B. Morse, Alfred A. Knopf, 2003.

• Charlotte Gray, Reluctant Genius: Alexander Graham Bell and the Passion for Invention, Arcade, 2006.

• R.W. Burns, Television: An International History of the Formative Years, Institution of Engineering and Technology, 1998.

• Tim Berners-Lee, Weaving the Web, HarperBusiness, 2000.

  
  

Articles :

• Britannica, « Writing - Sumerian writing ». britannica.com

• American Congress Library, « Gutenberg and the Printing Revolution ». loc.gov

• Britannica, « History of Radio ». britannica.com

• Oxford University Press Blog, « A brief history of social media ». oup.com

Multimedia :

• Documentaire ARTE, « Rome, l'Empire sans limites » (2016). arte.tv (in French)

• Smithsonian Institution, « Telegraph History ». youtube.com

• BBC Podcast, « History of the Telephone ». bbc.co.uk

• « How BBC television first went live » – BBC News (YouTube)

• Netflix, documentary The Social Dilemma (2020). bande-annonce YouTube