Before TV Series - 1600s

Awakenings from Then 'til Now steps back in time over five centuries (1600s to 21st century) exploring events that define who we are as a nation and a people. It speaks of hardships and sorrow but never without hope in tomorrow. One aspect that evolved, rather than being invented by one single individual, is television...the boob tube, idiot box, the tube, the telly, TV! By whatever name it is called one fact remains: The TV without a doubt has taken over the home since its inception. 

How did news get around before TV? Here is a glimpse. . .

Before TV: Seventeenth Century

News from across the sea depended upon safe arrival of ships carrying newspapers and other communications from England. The colonists welcomed any news from their homeland, especially erudite letters echoing European tradition.

Vital in communications

The newspaper did first proclaim

Decrees reached mass society
Reporting acts of death and pain

   

 
 During the late 1600′s, the Gazette was brought to the American Colonies

by ship captains where it was widely circulated in coffee houses, 

providing mostly European news to the information-starved 

(and sometimes homesick) colonists.

Ideological and religious divisions

Ran deep, not easily resolved

Biblical translations reflected harmony

As new testimonials evolved



Science, scholarship, and education
Were topics of the hour
Religion, status, and politics
Shrouded those of power



 Scientists exchanged ideas
Along with news of the learned world
Erudite letters described trials
Usually the only written word



Needed quests for prevailing knowledge
Led adventurers to cross the sea
Music, dramatic art, poetry
Reigned before the new age of TV

  ©2013 Awakenings

Sharla Lee Shults