History of advertising

By signeholm123@gmail.com
  • 1200 BCE

    Prehistory of advertising

    2nd millennium BC – Babylon
    - Criers were used to shout messages in marketplaces. Ancient Phoenicia
    - Used fire signals to promote and spread trade messages. c. 1200 BC – Ancient Egypt
    - First known advertising text found on papyrus: The “Shem” scroll.
  • 800 BCE

    Classical antiquity

    Ancient Greece
    - Use of Kerux (heralds), Axon (notice boards), and Kyrbo (public announcements). Ancient Rome
    - Advertising via: Praeco (town criers) Album (public noticeboards) Graffiti Signa (shop signs)
  • 220

    Early print & visual advertising (east asia)

    Before 220 AD – China
    Use of woodblock printing on textiles and paper. 868 AD – China
    First printed book: Diamond Sutra, an example of early printed communication.
  • 500

    Medieval period

    Medieval Europe
    Advertising by:
    Newsmen, peddlers, charlatans, and public criers using horns. Late Middle Ages
    Emergence of wooden and metal signs to represent shops and guild crafts (linked to street names).
  • 1447

    Printing revolution

    1447 – Johannes Gutenberg
    Invented the printing press: a major turning point in the mass distribution of information. 15th century – Woodcut (xylography)
    Early image-based printing technique used in advertising flyers and religious imagery.
  • Period: to

    Industrial revolution

    Shift from handcraft to machine-based production.
    Growth of commercialism and rise in mass-market advertising.
    Sparked urban consumer culture and broader access to printed media.
  • Period: to

    The Consolidation of Advertising

    Style: Art Nouveau (1890–1905)
    Advertising becomes more organized and professionalized
    Rise of mass printing: posters, newspapers, and magazines
    Use of artistic and decorative styles to attract consumers
    Art Nouveau: flowing lines, nature motifs, elegant visuals (e.g., Alphonse Mucha)
    Targeted messages aimed at an increasingly urban and literate public
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    Expansion of Advertising

    Style: Art Deco (1920–1939) Scientific Advertising -Economic boom and mass consumer culture in the 1920s ("Roaring Twenties")
    - Growth of radio advertising and visual print ads
    -Art Deco: geometric shapes, bold colors, luxury and progress
    -Emergence of "Scientific Advertising":
    -Pioneered by Claude Hopkins
    -Focused on psychology, testing, and persuasive techniques
    -Ads became more rational, data-driven, and persuas
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    Creative Revolution

    Post-WWII economic growth = advertising boom Rise of TV advertising as dominant medium “Creative Revolution” led by agencies like DDB (Doyle Dane Bernbach) Ads become: Witty, ironic, clever -Visually striking with strong concepts -Focused on brand personality -Famous example: Volkswagen’s "Think Small" ad
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    Late 20th Century / Digital Beginnings

    -The Birth of the World Wide Web (from 1990) -TV remains strong, but computer technology emerges -Use of computers for graphic design and production -1980s–90s: rise of branding, global campaigns, and celebrity endorsements -1990: WWW invented by Tim Berners-Lee -Late 1990s: first online banners and pop-up ads
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    The Turn of the Century

    Advertising goes digital and global -Rise of Google Ads, Facebook, YouTube, and influencer marketing Focus shifts to:
    -SEO, targeted ads, and personalized content
    -Social media platforms as key channels
    -Mobile phones, apps, and viral campaigns reshape how people interact with brand