This timeline presents significant events and developments in the innovation and management of information and documents from cave paintings (ca 30,000 BC) to the present. To keep recent electronic developments from dominating the listing, only the most significant digital innovations are included.

Use: Drag band to move timeline. Click magnifying glasses to lengthen or shorten display duration. Click an entry to see details.

Here is the key to the icons used in the timeline:

Book Forms and Bookmaking Calendars Copyrights and Legal Infographics and Statististics Libraries Maps Math and Symbology Mechanization Networks New Formats or Document Forms Organizing Information Pre-writing Paper and Papermaking Printing Science and Technology Scripts and Alphabets Standardization and Typography Theory Timelines Writing