History of Wikipedia: How a Simple Idea Became a Global Resource

Wikipedia was born out of a simple idea by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger in 2001. They wanted to create a free online encyclopedia that anyone could edit.

The first version of Wikipedia was launched on January 15, 2001, and it was initially called "Nupedia." However, it quickly became clear that the project needed a more collaborative approach.

Wales and Sanger decided to create a new platform that would allow anyone to contribute and edit articles, which eventually became Wikipedia. This decision marked a significant shift in the project's direction.

The first article on Wikipedia was about Alexander the Great, and it was created by Jimmy Wales himself.

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Wikipedia was launched on January 15, 2001, by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger as a complementary project to Nupedia, a paid encyclopedia with strict editorial controls.

The founders realized that creating an open platform where anyone could contribute would allow for faster updates and a broader range of topics, attracting thousands of volunteers who began writing articles across various subjects.

In March 2000, the Nupedia project was started by Jimmy Wales, with Larry Sanger as editor-in-chief, and funded by Bomis.

The Wikimedia Foundation was founded on June 20, 2003, to oversee the development of Wikipedia and other related projects.

Wikipedia's URL was changed from wikipedia.com to wikipedia.org in August 2002, and Angela Beesley and Florence Nibart-Devouard were elected to the Board of Trustees of the Wikimedia Foundation.

In March 2000, the Nupedia project was started. It was founded by Jimmy Wales, with Larry Sanger as editor-in-chief, and funded by Bomis.

Nupedia's intention was to have articles written by experts which would be licensed as free content.

2002 was a pivotal year for Wikipedia. Larry Sanger left both Nupedia and Wikipedia in March 2002, following the withdrawal of funding by Bomis during the dot-com bust. This marked a significant turning point in the project's development.

Sanger and co-founder Jimmy Wales had differing views on how to manage open encyclopedias, with Sanger proposing that experts still have a place in the Web 2.0 world. He went on to found Citizendium, an open encyclopedia that used real names for contributors to reduce disruptive editing.

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Meanwhile, Wales established self-governance and bottom-up self-direction on Wikipedia, giving editors more autonomy to manage the project. He encouraged the community to learn to self-manage and find its own best approaches.

In 2002, the Spanish Wikipedia forked, with the establishment of the Enciclopedia Libre. This was not the only significant event of the year, as the first portable MediaWiki software went live on January 25th.

Bots were introduced, and Jimmy Wales confirmed that Wikipedia would never run commercial advertising. The first sister project, Wiktionary, and the first formal Manual of Style were also launched.

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Wikipedia was founded by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger in 2001. It was initially launched as a complementary project to Nupedia, a paid encyclopedia with strict editorial controls.

The first edit to Wikipedia was made by Wales, but it's unclear if it was to the current version of the site. The first recovered edit to Wikipedia.com was to the HomePage on 15 January 2001, reading "This is the new WikiPedia!". It can be found here.

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In March 2000, the Nupedia project was started by Wales, with Sanger as editor-in-chief, and funded by Bomis. This project aimed to publish articles written by experts licensed as free content.

Wales and Sanger proposed launching the new project under its own name, Wikipedia, as a supplementary project to Nupedia which operates entirely independently. A new wiki was launched at wikipedia.com on Monday 15 January 2001.

The project received many new participants after being mentioned on the Slashdot website in July 2001, having already earned two minor mentions in March 2001. It then received a prominent pointer to a story on the community-edited technology and culture website Kuro5hin on 25 July.

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Wikipedia was founded by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger in 2001.

The first version of Wikipedia was launched on January 15, 2001, and was initially called "Nupedia". However, it was later replaced with the open-editing model that we know today.

Wikipedia's open-editing model allows anyone with an internet connection to contribute and edit articles.

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Wikipedia was initially conceived as a feeder project for Nupedia, an earlier project to produce a free online encyclopedia.

The idea of a wiki-based complement originated from a conversation between Larry Sanger and Ben Kovitz, a computer programmer who explained the concept of wikis to Sanger over dinner on 2 January 2001.

Larry Sanger proposed on the Nupedia mailing list that a wiki be set up as a "feeder" project for Nupedia, citing its potential to be implemented practically instantly and its low risk of maintenance.

Wales set up a wiki using UseModWiki (version 0.90) and put it online on 10 January 2001, marking the beginning of Wikipedia's development.

Nupedia's use of a wiki was seen as a potential solution to its slow content creation, with Sanger proposing that it would be a great source for content and have little downside.

Wikipedia operates under an open-source philosophy that enables users to not only read but also edit entries freely.

This model promotes transparency and fosters a sense of community among contributors who share a passion for knowledge dissemination. The use of Creative Commons licenses allows others to reuse content while giving credit back to the original authors.

The open-source philosophy is supported by Wikipedia's collaborative editing model, where users from all walks of life can edit and contribute content. This leads to information being updated rapidly in response to new developments or corrections.

Wikipedia's open-source approach encourages inclusivity and allows users to contribute content without needing to be an expert author. The system is supported by guidelines and policies to maintain quality control, ensuring that the information remains accurate and reliable.

In 1996, Jimmy Wales moved to San Diego to establish Bomis, Inc., a web portal company.

Wales founded Nupedia in March 2000, a free online encyclopedia with Larry Sanger as editor in chief. Nupedia was organized like existing encyclopedias, with an advisory board of experts and a lengthy review process.

By January 2001, fewer than two dozen articles were finished on Nupedia, and Sanger advocated for an open-source encyclopedia based on wiki software. Wikipedia was launched as a feature of Nupedia.com on January 15, 2001, but was relaunched as an independent website a few days later.

In its first year, Wikipedia expanded to some 20,000 articles in 18 languages, including French, German, Polish, Dutch, Hebrew, Chinese, and Esperanto. The English-language version of Wikipedia had more than 1,000,000 articles by 2006.

In 2003, the English Wikipedia passed a major milestone by reaching 100,000 articles. This was a significant achievement, considering the next largest edition, the German Wikipedia, had only reached 10,000 articles.

The Wikimedia Foundation was established in 2003, marking a new era for the Wikipedia project. This foundation would go on to play a crucial role in supporting and guiding the growth of Wikipedia.

Wikipedia adopted its iconic jigsaw world logo in 2003, a symbol that has become synonymous with the platform. This logo was a departure from the previous design and has remained relatively unchanged to this day.

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Mathematical formulae using TeX were reintroduced to the website in 2003, making it easier for users to create and edit complex mathematical content. This feature has been a valuable tool for scientists, mathematicians, and students alike.

The first Wikipedian social meeting took place in Munich, Germany, in October 2003, marking an important moment in the development of the Wikipedia community. This meeting brought together early Wikipedians and laid the groundwork for future collaborations.

Here's a brief timeline of Wikipedia's growth in 2003:

The English Wikipedia's growth was remarkable, with over 100,000 articles in 2003. By 2006, it had reached one million articles, with Jordanhill railway station being the milestone article.

The Wikimedia Foundation was established in 2003, and Wikipedia adopted its jigsaw world logo. Mathematical formulae using TeX were reintroduced to the website.

In 2004, the English Wikipedia accounted for just under half of the over one million articles in all languages. Wikipedia's server farms were moved from California to Florida.

The number of articles in all Wikipedia editions doubled in size in 12 months, from under 500,000 in late 2003 to over one million in over 100 languages by the end of 2004. The first attempt to block Wikipedia occurred in China in June 2004.

The Arbitration Committee of the English Wikipedia decided in May 2009 to restrict access to its site from Church of Scientology IP addresses. A "host of anti-Scientologist editors" were also topic-banned.

The three-millionth article on the English Wikipedia was created on 17 August 2009 at 04:05 UTC. On 27 December 2009, the German Wikipedia exceeded one million articles, becoming the second edition after the English Wikipedia to do so.

The English Wikipedia gained its two-millionth article, El Hormiguero, on 9 September 2007. In April 2007, Wikipedia Version 0.5 article selection release was published.

The 10-millionth overall Wikipedia article was created in April 2008. By the end of the year, the English Wikipedia exceeded 2.5 million articles.

Wikipedia's growth was not limited to English; by 2011, non-English versions of Wikipedia numbered over 250. Some versions had already amassed hundreds of thousands of articles.

The Chinese government periodically restricted access to Wikipedia's content within China. In 2019, Chinese authorities blocked Wikipedia in all languages, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre.

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Biographical articles on Wikipedia have had a significant impact on the lives of notable people. This has led to attempts to manipulate and falsify Wikipedia articles for promotional or defamatory purposes.

One notable example is the Seigenthaler controversy, where a hoaxer asserted on Wikipedia that journalist John Seigenthaler had been involved in the Kennedy assassination of 1963. This incident highlights the potential for misinformation on Wikipedia.

The accuracy of biographical articles has also been a concern for public figures. In 2006, German comedian Atze Schröder sued Arne Klempert, secretary of Wikimedia Deutschland, because he did not want his real name published in Wikipedia. Schröder later withdrew his complaint but wanted his attorney's costs to be paid by Klempert.

A court decided that the artist had to cover those costs himself, demonstrating the importance of verifying information on Wikipedia.

The impact of biographical articles has also been felt by politicians. In 2008, German Left Party politician Lutz Heilmann claimed that some remarks in his Wikipedia article caused damage to his reputation. He succeeded in getting a court order to make Wikimedia Deutschland remove a key search portal.

This incident resulted in a national outpouring of support for Wikipedia, more donations to Wikimedia Deutschland, and a rise in daily pageviews of the Lutz Heilmann article from a few dozen to half a million.

Here are some notable cases where biographical articles on Wikipedia had significant consequences:

The Wikipedia concept has inspired many specialized foreign language forks, including Enciclopedia Libre (Spanish), Wikiweise (German), WikiZnanie (Russian), Susning.nu (Swedish), and Baidu Baike (Chinese). These sites use licenses like GFDL, allowing for the exchange of material with their respective language Wikipedias.

Some of these forks, like Enciclopedia Libre, have successfully integrated with their parent Wikipedias. In contrast, others have taken a more independent approach.

Larry Sanger founded Citizendium in 2006, based on a modified version of MediaWiki. The site aimed to improve on the Wikipedia model with "gentle expert oversight".

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In the United Kingdom, a block of the Virgin Killer article was put in place on December 5, 2008, due to a claim that the associated image was "potentially illegal" under the Protection of Children Act 1978.

This block affected an estimated 95% of British users.

On December 9, 2008, the Internet Watch Foundation's recommendation to block the image was rescinded.

The block was a significant event, highlighting the complexities of online content regulation.

Wikipedia's external impact has been significant, with the UK Intellectual Property Office deeming it a major source in a Formula One trademark case ruling in 2007. This marked a turning point in Wikipedia's recognition as a reliable source.

The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and related tsunami, the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre, and the 2008 American Presidential election were all major events that saw Wikipedia emerge as a key source for information. The Virginia Tech article, in particular, was accessed 750,000 times in just two days, with local newspapers noting that Wikipedia had become the clearinghouse for detailed information on the event.

Some academics, however, have been critical of Wikipedia's use as a research tool. In 2007, Noam Cohen of the New York Times reported that some academics were banning the use of Wikipedia as a research tool, citing concerns about the site's reliability. Despite this, some professors at Harvard University, including those at The Harvard Crimson, have included Wikipedia in their syllabi, with a split in their perception of using the site.

Here are some notable examples of Wikipedia's external impact:

Wikipedia's internationalization efforts began early in its development, with the creation of new namespaces and subdomains for non-English languages.

The first non-English subdomain was deutsche.wikipedia.com, created on March 16, 2001, followed by catalan.wikipedia.com just a few hours later.

Catalan Wikipedia initially had the most articles in a non-English language, although statistics from that period are imprecise.

In May 2001, French Wikipedia was created, along with Wikipedias in Chinese, Dutch, Esperanto, Hebrew, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish.

These languages were soon joined by Arabic and Hungarian, and by September 2001, an announcement pledged commitment to multilingual provision.

By January 2002, 90% of all Wikipedia articles were in English, but by January 2004, this number had dropped to fewer than 50%.

As of 2014, about 85% of all Wikipedia articles were in non-English Wikipedia versions.

Today, the English and Simple English Wikipedias have 7 million articles between them, but roughly 90% of articles are in non-English Wikipedias.

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Wikipedia gained recognition amongst traditional media as a "key source" for major new events, such as the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and related tsunami, the 2008 American Presidential election, and 2007 Virginia Tech shooting.

The 2007 Virginia Tech shooting article was accessed 750,000 times in just two days, making it a significant source of information for those affected by the tragedy.

Some academics were initially hesitant to use Wikipedia as a research tool, with Noam Cohen of the New York Times reporting in 2007 that some were banning its use.

However, not all academics were opposed to Wikipedia, with some professors at Harvard University including it in their syllabi.

A 2013 study by four major universities identified the most disputed articles on Wikipedia, with topics like Israel, Adolf Hitler, and God being the most fiercely debated.

The fact that Wikipedia was deemed a reliable source by the UK Intellectual Property Office in 2007 is a testament to its credibility and usefulness.

The German Wikipedia was the first to be partly published using other media, including releases on CD in November 2004 and more extended versions on CDs or DVD in April 2005 and December 2006.

In December 2005, a 139-page book explaining Wikipedia, its history and policies was published, accompanied by a 7.5 GB DVD containing 300,000 articles and 100,000 images from the German Wikipedia.

Directmedia originally planned to print the German Wikipedia in its entirety, in 100 volumes of 800 pages each, but this project was called off in March 2006.

Bertelsmann published a 1000-page volume with a selection of popular German Wikipedia articles in September 2008, and paid 1 Euro per sold copy to Wikimedia Deutschland.

The first CD version containing a selection of articles from the English Wikipedia was published in April 2006 by SOS Children as the 2006 Wikipedia CD Selection.

A free software project, "Encyclopodia", was launched to make a static version of Wikipedia available for use on iPods around March 2006, and can currently be used on 1st to 4th generation iPods.

The Wikimedia Foundation has some protection from lawsuits thanks to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. This law shields the foundation from liability in cases where users post defamatory content.

In the defamation action Bauer et al. v. Glatzer et al., a court held that Wikimedia had no case to answer. This was due to the provisions of Section 230.

A similar law in France also helped dismiss a lawsuit in October 2007.

The People's Republic of China has a history of blocking contentious Web sites, including Wikimedia sites. This has had a significant impact on the Chinese Wikipedia.

In June 2004, access to the Chinese Wikipedia from Beijing was blocked on the fifteenth anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. This block was likely related to an article published by the IDG News Service on May 31, 2004, discussing the Chinese Wikipedia's treatment of the protests.

The block had a lasting effect on the Chinese Wikipedia, causing sharp dips in various indicators such as the number of new users, new articles, and edits. It took anywhere from six to twelve months for the Chinese Wikipedia to recover to its pre-block levels.

Wikipedia was blocked again in September 2004, but this time the block was not comprehensive and some users in mainland China were never affected. The exact reason for the block is unknown, but it may have been linked with the closing down of YTHT BBS, a popular Peking University-based BBS.

The Chinese Wikipedia was also blocked from October 2005 to around mid-October 2006, affecting both the English and Chinese versions. However, by November of that year, both versions were accessible in all provinces and by all ISPs. Interestingly, the end of the block coincided with the Chinese Wikipedia's 100,000th article milestone.

In 2008, the Chinese Wikipedia was unblocked on July 31, coinciding with the arrival of foreign journalists in Beijing to report on the upcoming Olympic Games. This unblocking was likely the result of talks between the International Olympic Committee and the Games' Chinese organizers.

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Wikipedia has faced numerous challenges and controversies throughout its history. One notable issue is the neutrality problem, where some articles have been found to have a biased tone or contain false information.

The site has struggled with vandalism, where users intentionally make changes to articles to cause harm or disrupt the site. This has led to the development of automated tools to detect and prevent vandalism.

In 2005, Wikipedia's founder Jimmy Wales faced criticism for the site's lack of accountability, particularly regarding the role of administrators. He responded by introducing a new set of rules and guidelines for administrators.

Wikipedia has also faced criticism for its lack of diversity, with some users accusing the site of having a "white, male, and middle-class" bias. This has led to efforts to increase diversity and inclusion on the site.

The site has also been criticized for its handling of sensitive topics, such as the Holocaust. In 2006, a controversy erupted over the deletion of a page about a Holocaust denial article, with some users accusing the site of censorship.

The site has also struggled with issues of accuracy and reliability, particularly in the early years. In 2003, a study found that Wikipedia's articles contained a significant number of errors and inaccuracies.

Despite these challenges, Wikipedia has continued to grow and evolve, with new tools and features being developed to address these issues.

Wikipedia's legacy is a remarkable story of growth and expansion. By 2006, the English-language version of Wikipedia had surpassed 1 million articles.

The number of new articles created each year gradually decreased, from a peak of 665,000 in 2007 to 374,000 in 2010. However, the encyclopedia continued to expand at a rate of millions of words per month.

In response to this slowdown, the Wikimedia Foundation focused its expansion efforts on non-English versions of Wikipedia. By 2011, there were over 250 non-English versions of Wikipedia.

Some versions, like the French and German versions, had already amassed hundreds of thousands of articles. The French and German versions both boasted more than a million articles by 2011.

The Wikimedia Foundation paid particular attention to languages of the developing world, such as Swahili and Tamil, in an attempt to reach populations otherwise underserved by the Internet.