Early History of the Internet

1961 First packet-switching papers
1966 Merit Network founded
1966 ARPANET planning starts
1969 ARPANET carries its first packets
1970 Mark I network at NPL (UK)
1970 Network Information Center (NIC)
1971 Merit Network's packet-switched network operational
1971 Tymnet packet-switched network
1972 Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) established
1973 CYCLADES network demonstrated
1974 Telenet packet-switched network
1976 X.25 protocol approved
1979 Internet Activities Board (IAB)
1980 USENET news using UUCP
1980 Ethernet standard introduced
1981 BITNET established