/'.    /|    .'\
           ,._   |+i\  /++\  / +|    ,,
           |*+'._/+++\/+ ++\/+++<_.-'+|
      :-.  \ ++++?++ +++++*++++++ +++ /  .-:
      |*+\_/++++ +++*++ ++++++ ++?++++\_/ +|
  ,    \*+++++ ++++ +++*+++ ++++ +++ +++++/   ,
  \'-._> +__+*++__*+++_+__*++ ++__++++__*<_.-'/
   `>*+++|  \++/  |+*/     `\ +|  |++/  |++++<'
_,-'+ * +*\  \/  /++|__.-.  |+ |  |+/  /+ +*+'-._
'-.*+++++++\    /+ ++++++/  / *|  |/  /+ ++++++.-'
    > *+++++\  /*++++ +/` /`+++|     < *++ +++< 
_,-'* +++ ++|  |++ +*/` /` +* +|  |\  \+ ++++++'-._
`-._+ +*++?+|  |+++*|  '-----.+|  |+\  \+* ++ +_.-'
   _`\++++++|__|+ *+|________|+|__|++\__|++++/`_
  /*++_+* + +++++ ++ + ++++ +++++ ++ ++++ ++_+*+\
  '--' `>*+++ +++++ +++++*++++  +++ ++++ ?<' '--'
       /++_++ ++ ++++++ ++?+ +++++*+++ ++++ \
       |_/ `\++ ++ +++*++++++++++ ++++*./`\_|
            /+*.-.*+ +_ ++*+ _+++ .-.* +\
            | /   | +/ `\?+/` \*+|    \ |
             '    \.'    |/    './     '

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 #Introduction

Hey there, fellow wanderers of Freenet! If you somehow stumbled into this rabbit hole while randomly exploring, my name is 1golina, 
and this is the start of my series of posts explaining important concepts and events from the web! Now, if youre some nerd who loves 
theoretical concepts and all that jazz, this aint the place for youIm just here to tell the history of things. But hey, check out my 
other blog if you wanna learn about boring stuff like IPs, HTTP, and all that crap (well, I dont actually have another blog for that 
yet). But enough rambling, lets jump straight into one of the most fundamental moments in internet history, the time split.

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 #The Y2K Crisis

For those who dont know, the history of the web can be split into two main eras, each with its own characteristics: the internet era 
and the intranet era. And the event that separates these two? The Y2K crisis. But what even was that? "Inter"net? What kind of cursed 
name is that? Dont worry, well break it all down.  

If you were born after 95, let me give you some context. Us, the ancient inhabitants of the web, used to access something called the 
internet, a bunch of protocols that connected every computer in the world (as long as it had access) into a single, unified network. 
There wasnt a central authority like todayit was pure anarchy, but somehow, it still worked. We had ways to moderate and prevent total 
chaos. It was glorious. I could make a website, and anyone in the world could access it using an advanced browser full of cutting-edge 
technology. To compare it with today, imagine the freedom of Freenet, combined with the power of intranets, but accessible to 
everyone.  

So, if it was so amazing, what the hell happened? Why did the internet die?  

Well, remember when I said that we had ways to keep things in check? Yeah one day, those systems just stopped working. And suddenly, 
using the internet became insanity.  

Without getting too technical, in the beginning, the internet had built-in security protocols to stop bad actors from wreaking havoc. 
But over time, these protocols became so ancient and decrepit that they eventually broke down completely. In their place, corporations 
stepped in to "fix" things (aka monetize security). These companies developed (or just bought from desperate, starving developers) 
their own security solutions and charged people to keep the web safe.  

Everything was fine until conspiracy theories started spreadingrumors that all this security would completely collapse when the world 
moved from the 20th to the 21st century.  

And guess what? Thats exactly what happened at the turn of the millennium.  

Some say it was all planned by governments like the US and China, mega-corps that wanted to make money elsewhere, and other shadowy 
groups. No solid proof, but I have my doubts.  

After that? Using the internet became impossible for the average person. If you went online, youd catch a virus in 10 minutes 
guaranteed. The only network systems that survived were either extremely simple (like Freenet) or completely closed off (like 
intranets, which were already everywhere by then).  

And just like that, we entered the second era of the web, the intranet era.

Unlike the old internet, intranets are centralized networks managed by a central provider, which can be a government entity, a 
corporation, or a specific group. You need permission to access and navigate within an intranet, and the central provider acts almost 
like the administration of a website. Intranets already existed before the Y2K crisis, with the biggest example being Albanias 
"Hoxhanet," but it was only after the downfall of the common internet that this centralized network model became the standard for the 
general population. On top of that, the old corporations that once kept the internet "secure" shifted their focus to the intranet 
market, offering their services to governments and other corporations.  

In contrast to the intranets that became the default for the average user, there was also the rise of the now-famous Freenet (which is 
where you are right now!). Evolving from the Gopher protocol created in the 1940s, Freenet is built and maintained by the community 
itself. Its an EXTREMELY simple communication protocol compared to both the old internet and modern intranets, to the point that it 
doesnt even have HTML built into it. Because of this simplicity, Freenet is incredibly secure and the go-to place for those who just 
want to browse on a decentralized network, free from constant corporate surveillance. Its way more popular among tech enthusiasts and 
like-minded folks (like you!). 

Aside from these two major network types that emerged after the Y2K crisis, theres also "Net-Nouveau"but that one deserves its own 
post, which Ill be writing in the future.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
 #Conclusion

So, wanderers, that was the first post in this series about the vast history of the web. Theres still A LOT more to come, so stay 
tuned! Stay safe, and farewell.  

Cogito Ergo Sum

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