The ultimate guide to communities throughout human history 🧵 ↓

Everyone has been talking about communities for the last 24-36 months like we’ve just discovered that building online communities is the new meta.

I’ve been building online communities for 17 years and let me tell you, communities have been around for thousands of years.

In fact there has never been a successful product or service that hasn’t had a very strong successful community supporting it unless it was a public utility. Period.

What is a community?

A community is a group of people with a shared interest and passion who interact with each other about this shared interest.

You love the New York Jets.

You end up going to a bar with your New York Jets Jersey on.

At the bar you meet up with other New York Jets fans to watch the game who are also wearing their Jerseys.

You might not know them personally but instantly you have a connection with them. You all share a common interest which you display proudly by wearing the same jerseys.

While you all root for the same team and you are all wearing New York Jet’s Jerseys, you all become a tribe who share a common interest in the Jets and them winning the Football game.

You are a member of the community known as The Jets Fan base.

People by nature are members of many communities at the same time.

Everyone wants to belong and is looking to be accepted as part of a community and a tribe.

This has been happening for thousands of years.

Let me show you.

Here is the ultimate guide to communities from the Egyptians all the way up to today

In 2000 BC, the ancient Egyptians built a civilization around the Nile River, using its fertile land to farm and thrive.

They created a community of shared beliefs, with gods like Ra and Osiris, that united them in a religious practices.

In 1900 BC, the Indus Valley Civilization emerged, creating a community around their urban centers and complex system of writing.

They were known for their advanced technology, such as the first sewer systems and baked brick houses.

In 1800 BC, the Hittites built a community and empire based on their military strength and technological advancements like their mastery of ironworking.

They created a legal code, the Code of the Nesilim, which governed their society.

In 1700 BC, the Babylonians built their community around their capital city, Babylon, and their king Hammurabi created one of the earliest legal codes in history.

This code provided guidelines for social behavior and justice.

In 1600 BC, the Mycenaeans created a community based on their art, architecture, and military might.

They built citadels and palaces, such as the famous Lion Gate of Mycenae, and their civilization inspired the epic poems of Homer.

In 1500 BC, the Shang Dynasty emerged in China, creating a community based on their social hierarchy and religious beliefs.

They used oracle bones to communicate with their ancestors and established a system of divination.

In 1400 BC, the Minoans built a community on the island of Crete, known for their art, pottery, and labyrinthine palace at Knossos.

They worshiped a goddess, possibly named Rhea or the Snake Goddess, who symbolized fertility and the natural world.

In 1300 BC, the ancient Greeks built their community around their city-states, such as Athens and Sparta, and their cultural practices, such as their philosophy, theater, and athletics.

The Greeks were also united by their language and religion, and their civilization would influence the Western world for centuries to come.

In 1200 BC, the Israelites formed a community around their shared faith and religious practices, as recorded in the Hebrew Bible.

They believed in one God, Yahweh, and their stories and traditions would influence the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

In 1100 BC, the Phoenicians created a community around their seafaring and trade, establishing colonies and cities throughout the Mediterranean.

They developed an alphabet that would influence the writing systems of Europe and the Middle East.

In 1000 BC, the Olmec civilization emerged in Mesoamerica, creating a community around their monumental architecture, such as the colossal heads, and their complex religious beliefs, such as their worship of the jaguar and other animals.

In 900 BC, the Zhou Dynasty emerged in China, creating a community around their social and political hierarchy, based on the Mandate of Heaven.

They developed iron technology, used the Book of Changes for divination, and created the famous Daoist text, the Daodejing.

In 800 BC, the Etruscans created a community in central Italy, known for their art, architecture, and cultural practices, such as their divination using the entrails of animals.

They would influence the early Roman civilization.

In 700 BC, the Maya civilization emerged in Mesoamerica, creating a community around their complex writing system, astronomy, and religion.

They built monumental structures, such as the pyramids at Tikal, and developed a calendar that predicted cosmic events.

In 600 BC, the Persian Empire emerged, creating a community around their conquests and governance.

They were known for their infrastructure, such as the Royal Road, and their religious practices, such as Zoroastrianism. Worship of the divine light.

In 500 BC, the Greek city-states continued to thrive, creating communities around their cultural practices and political systems.

They developed democracy in Athens and established colonies throughout the Mediterranean.

In 400 BC, the Qin Dynasty emerged in China, creating a community around their military conquests and unification of the country.

They built the Great Wall of China and standardized weights and measures.

In 300 BC, the Roman Republic emerged, creating a community around their legal system and military power.

They were known for their engineering, such as the aqueducts and roads, and their cultural practices, such as gladiatorial games

In 200 BC, the Han Dynasty emerged in China, creating a community around their bureaucracy and Confucianism.

They developed paper, the Silk Road, and established a system of imperial examinations.

In 100 BC, the Maya civilization continued to thrive, creating communities around their trade, agriculture, and religious practices.

They developed a system of writing and architecture, such as the pyramids at Chichen Itza.

In 0 AD, the Roman Empire emerged, creating a community around their military conquests, legal system, and cultural practices.

They built monumental structures, such as the Colosseum, and spread Christianity throughout the empire.

In 100 AD, the Gupta Empire emerged in India, creating a community around their art, science, and religion.

They were known for their astronomy, mathematics, and literature, such as the Kama Sutra.

In 200 AD, the Mayan civilization began to decline, but the Moche culture emerged in Peru, creating a community around their art, ceramics, and metallurgy.

They built monumental structures, such as the Huaca del Sol, and worshiped deities, such as Ai Apaec.

In 300 AD, the Byzantine Empire emerged, creating a community around their Christianity, art, and politics.

They were known for their mosaics, such as the ones at the Hagia Sophia, and their legal system, the Justinian Code.

In 400 AD, the Gupta Empire declined, but the Teotihuacan civilization emerged in Mesoamerica, creating a community around their urban planning and architecture, such as the Pyramid of the Sun.

They were also known for their art and religion.

In 500 AD, the Sui Dynasty emerged in China, creating a community around their reunification of the country and construction of the Grand Canal.

They were also known for their Buddhism and poetry, such as the works of Li Bai.

In 700 AD, the Islamic Caliphate emerged, creating a community around their religion, governance, and trade.

They were known for their scholarship, such as the works of Al-Khwarizmi, and their architecture, such as the Alhambra.

In 800 AD, the Vikings emerged, creating a community around their seafaring, raids, and trade.

They were known for their longships, such as the ones at the Oseberg ship burial, and their mythology, such as the tales of Odin and Thor.

In 900 AD, the Abbasid Caliphate continued to thrive, creating a community around their Islam, trade, and scholarship.

They were known for their translation of ancient Greek texts, such as the works of Aristotle, and their architecture, such as the Great Mosque of Samarra.

In 1000 AD, the Norse colonies in Greenland continued to flourish, creating a community around their farming, hunting, and seafaring.

They were known for their sagas, such as the Vinland Sagas, and their adaptation to the harsh Arctic environment.

In 1100 AD, the Crusades began, creating a community around their Christianity and military campaigns in the Holy Land.

They were known for their chivalry, such as the Knights Templar, and their architecture, such as the castles of the Teutonic Knights.

In 1200 AD, the Mongol Empire emerged, creating a community around their conquests, trade, and governance.

They were known for their military tactics, such as the use of horse archers, and their cultural practices, such as the writings of Marco Polo.

In 1300 AD, the Renaissance began in Italy, creating a community around their art, science, and humanism.

They were known for their paintings, such as the works of Leonardo da Vinci, and their philosophy, such as the writings of Niccolò Machiavelli.

In 1400 AD, the Ming Dynasty emerged in China, creating a community around their art, literature, and trade.

They were known for their porcelain, such as the Ming vases, and their naval expeditions, such as the voyages of Zheng He.

In 1500 AD, the Protestant Reformation began in Europe, creating a community around their Christianity and theological debates.

They were known for the Bible translated into vernacular languages, and their artistic movements, such as the Northern Renaissance.

In 1600 AD, the Tokugawa Shogunate emerged in Japan, creating a community around their isolationism, art, and feudal hierarchy.

They were known for their ukiyo-e prints, such as the works of Hokusai, and their samurai culture, such as the Code of Bushido.

In 1700 AD, the Age of Enlightenment began in Europe, creating a community around their philosophy, science, and politics.

They were known for their thinkers, such as John Locke and Voltaire, and their revolutions, such as the American and French Revolutions.

In 1800, The American Bible Society was founded with a mission to promote the widespread distribution of the Bible.

It was one of many religious communities established during this time to promote Christian values and beliefs.

In 1820, the Masonic Lodge was a popular secret society in the United States. It was a fraternal organization that had roots in the European stonemason guilds.

Members shared a belief in the importance of morality, brotherhood, and charity.

In 1840, the first YMCA was established in London.

It provided young men with a place to socialize and engage in athletic activities while building community.

The organization quickly spread to other countries, including the United States.

In 1860, the first international Red Cross conference was held in Geneva. The organization was founded to provide medical aid to people affected by war and natural disasters.

Today, it is a global humanitarian organization with a community of millions of volunteers.

In 1880, the first public high school in the United States was established in Boston. It was a new concept at the time, as most schools were private or religiously affiliated.

The establishment of public schools provided access to education for all children.

In 1900, the Boy Scouts of America was founded.

It was based on the principles of the British scouting movement and focused on character development, outdoor skills, and community service.

It quickly became a popular organization for young boys.

In 1920, the National Football League (NFL) was founded in the United States. It was a professional sports league that brought together the best football players in the country.

The league has since grown to become one of the largest communities in the world.

In 1940, during World War II, the United Service Organizations (USO) was established to provide entertainment and support to American soldiers.

It organized concerts, shows, and other events to boost morale and keep troops connected to their families and communities.

In 1960, the Civil Rights Movement was in full swing in the United States. Groups like the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) were formed to fight for racial equality and justice.

Their efforts led to significant changes in civil rights legislation and policies.

In 1970, Dungeons & Dragons was created, bringing together a community of tabletop RPG enthusiasts.

In 1972 Atari released Pong, which quickly became a hit, sparking the rise of arcade gaming and building a community of gamers.

In 1974, the first online bulletin board system was created, allowing users to share information and connect with others online.

In 1976, Apple Computer was founded, creating a community of tech enthusiasts and paving the way for the personal computer revolution.

In 1978, the first text-based adventure game, Colossal Cave Adventure, was released, bringing together a community of gamers and inspiring future game developers.

In 1980, Pac-Man was released, becoming a cultural phenomenon and building an irl community called the Arcade.

In 1982, Activision was founded, creating a community of game developers and publishing popular titles such as Pitfall.

In 1984, Apple released the Apple IIe, making personal computing more accessible and expanding the tech community.

In 1986, Nintendo released the NES, revolutionizing the home gaming industry and building a community of console gamers.

In 1988, the first MMORPG, called MUD, was created, bringing together a community of gamers in a shared virtual world.

In 1990, the first website was created, paving the way for the modern internet and creating a community of web developers and enthusiasts.

In 1992, the first text-based MUD, called Ultima Online, was released, building a community of gamers and inspiring future MMORPGs.

In 1994, the World Wide Web Consortium was founded, establishing standards for the web and fostering a community of web developers.

In 1996, Nintendo released the Nintendo 64, with games such as GoldenEye becoming beloved classics and building a community of console gamers.

In 1997, the stock market experienced a boom, creating a community of investors and spawning the rise of online trading.

Also in 1997, Ultima Online was released, becoming the first MMORPG to reach mainstream success and building a massive community of gamers.

In 2000, Napster was launched and became one of the first peer-to-peer file-sharing services.

It allowed people to share music online, creating a new kind of online community centered around music.

In 2001, Apple launched iTunes, revolutionizing the music industry by allowing people to purchase and download digital music.

It created a new community of music lovers and changed the way we consume music.

Friendster was launched in 2002, revolutionizing online community and social networking by allowing people to connect with friends and meet new people online. Although it crashed all the time, it paved the way for better social networking sites.

In 2003 Myspace launched.

It became the first working social networking site and eventually a very large hub and community for music enthusiasts.

This site, although anonymous users ran rampant, really changed how we build and see communities.

In 2003 LinkedIn quickly became the go-to community and social networking site for professionals.

It allowed people to connect and form communities with others in their industry, and find job opportunities.

In 2004 Facebook launched at Harvard becoming its online community for higher education. It was clean, easy to use and promoted being your real self online.

People wanted to connect with real people so it quickly became the world's largest social network.

In 2006 Twitter launched becoming the first micro-blogging site on the web.

It quickly became the goto community platform for writers, intellectuals and trolls sharing their thoughts without the use of images.

In 2010, Instagram was launched and quickly became a popular photo-sharing app. It allowed people to grow huge communities quickly and connect with others based on shared interests in photography and art.

Snapchat was launched in 2011, and quickly built a user base of people who liked sharing images temporarily.

A community of people sharing moments in real-time before the messages disappeared forever.

People now use this app primarily for...certain types of pics 👀

In 2013, Dogecoin was developed by

@BillyM2k

& Jackson Palmer and introduced as a fun, meme-based cryptocurrency that poked fun at Bitcoin Maxis.

It quickly gained a passionate following and has one of the strongest meme communities on twitter.

@elonmusk

loves this meme token.

In 2015 Ethereum launched.

A decentralized platform for creating smart contracts and decentralized applications.

This platform has enabled the creation of a wide range of innovative blockchain-based projects and communities of developers, artists and innovators.

In 2017, The first generative collection of NFTs launched on Etherium called Cryptopunks.

Cryptopunks were released for free at first and fell on deaf ears.

Now they are held by a community of wealthy people on the internet.

Think a Rolex watch only digital.

2020 a global pandemic hit the world and kept us all inside making community that much more important to everyone.

People were seeking connection, were seeking community anywhere they could find it.

May 2020 Clubhouse launched starting the social audio revolution capturing lightning in a bottle.

When we all needed it the most, Clubhouse gave us a much needed community application that aloud to connect with people all over the world via voice.

April 2021

@TwitterSpaces

launched which was a direct signal that social audio was here to stay.

A social audio layer placed on top of a social network that had 15 years of algorithmic learnings was basically unstoppable.

Building a whole new community of social audio casters

2021 - present

NFT's collections created some of the strongest communities ever seen on the internet.

They tapped into the human need for belonging, competition and validation we all want.

By simply minting a pfp you instantly belonged to a tribe of other like minded people.

Communities have been around since humans have walked upright.

People will always have the innate instinctual need to belong to a tribe of fellow humans.

It's built into our DNA and we need it to survive.