A (mostly accurate) illustrated walk through the ages — from cave walls to AI.
Today, we use software for everyday tasks, regardless of the industry we’re in. But these tools didn’t always exist. Have you ever wondered what people used to keep track of the various aspects of life a few centuries back? I did — and I made a list about it, taking a stab at a funny walk-through-the-ages look at how the “software” of various parts of life evolved. Have a look, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed making it!
Did you know that cavemen used sticks and stones for more than just breaking bones?
Can you imagine battering for butter? There was a time when you had to barter for your daily bread and butter.
Did you know the world’s oldest skyscrapers were tombs? Building them was only possible through god-like teamwork and constant communication.
Perfectionist kings wanted to keep infectious malware out of their lands — can’t say we blame them. Back then, the malware was other humans and invading armies.
At least when you “call on someone” today, getting rejected is a lot easier than it was in the Victorian era.
Dropping a quick note to someone was wayyy more complicated than it is today — and way less expensive too. You’d actually need a bird to fly all that way.
A gifted wooden horse razed an entire city. The fall of Troy proved that sometimes the biggest threats arrive disguised as gifts. Thankfully, today’s deliveries are usually much less eventful.
Putting together a fab team that works well together can help you find new opportunities in lands the whole world didn’t even know existed.
All roads led to Rome—but they were built by people working together. The Romans knew that lasting success wasn’t just about great leaders; it was about creating systems that united teams behind a common purpose. Whether it’s an empire or a business, collaboration is what stands the test of time.
Internet! Internet! Video game consoles, TV units, and at-home glitch-state-of-the-art computers.
Suddenly, there was software for everything—and you didn’t even need to install it. SaaS made business software faster, smarter, and somehow convinced us all that another monthly subscription was a great idea.
And now, AI. It’s writing code, creating art, and occasionally making things up with alarming confidence. Every era has had a technological revolution that changed history and transformed human life. This one just happens to have some weird backtalk.
From cave walls to cloud dashboards to AI — the tools change, but the instinct to build, track, and tell each other what’s going on hasn’t. Thanks for reading.
See more of my work →© 2026 Kavya Raghavan — concept, writing & illustration.