Sending Messages

Sending Messages

Introduction Have you ever written someone a note? Have you ever sent an email? If so, you were sending a message. People have always found ways to send messages to each other. The way we send messages has changed over time. Each change has allowed people to send messages farther and faster.

Messages from Long Ago Beating on a drum was one of the earliest ways to send a message. Some of the earliest drums were hollow logs. People beat on the logs with large sticks. This sent signals a long distance. Sometimes drumbeats could be heard several miles away. Different drumbeats meant different things. One might send a warning of danger. Another might announce that a meeting was going to take place.

Smoke was also used to send messages. A blanket was placed over a smoking fire. When the blanket was removed, a puff of smoke rose into the air. Each pattern of puffs meant something different.

Mail Over time, people developed written language. This meant that messages could be written and then sent. Written messages became the first mail.

The first mail carriers carried mail by foot. These runners ran long distances to carry mail. Sometimes a group of runners carried a piece of mail. Each runner ran a part of the total distance.