Telegraph Lecture Notes

Telegraph

A communication system that enables long-distance transmission of messages over wire.

Buena Vista Social Club

A musical group that popularized traditional Cuban music.

Alfred Vail

An inventor who contributed to the development of the telegraph.

1868

Year when the telegraph was used to transform communication and political organization.

Cyrus W. Field

An American businessman known for laying the first transatlantic telegraph cable.

Political implications of the telegraph

Enabled centralized imperial expansion and rapid mobilization of troops.

Social implications of the telegraph

Changed communication dynamics, initially used by elites, later adopted by commoners.

Submarine cable

Underwater cables used for telecommunication and electrical transmission.

Telegraphic communication

A form of communication using the telegraph to send messages.

Interdependence in civilization

The reliance of individuals within a society on one another for goods and services.

Gender and the telegraph

The telegraph was perceived as masculine technology, yet offered opportunities for women.

Mechanics Magazine

A periodical that published early examples of telegraphic signs and symbols.

1st mode of signs

The first method used for numerals in telegraphic communication.

Compound numerals

Complex numbers in telegraphic notation that combine multiple digits.

Civilized existence

A state of society characterized by cooperation and dependence on others for survival.

Telegraph lines and railroads

Infrastructure developed to improve communication and transport, risking strategic advantages.