People communicated in the past using various methods depending on the era and available technologies:

• In prehistoric times, communication was mainly through hand gestures, body language, and vocal sounds such as grunting or changing pitch. Early humans also used cave paintings, drawings, and symbols to convey messages and concepts visually. Smoke signals, drum beats, and flashing lights were used to send signals over distances.

• Before the invention of writing (around 5,000 years ago), people used non-verbal signs like waving flags, beating drums, and smoke patterns to communicate. As language developed, oral storytelling, songs, poems, and chants became central for sharing history and culture. Messages were sometimes attached to carrier pigeons or delivered by horse riders to cover long distances.

• The invention of writing systems like cuneiform in Mesopotamia and hieroglyphics in Egypt allowed people to record information and transmit knowledge across space and generations. This was a major leap from oral and symbolic communication.

• With civilizations evolving, communication also involved the use of courier systems, royal scribes, and diplomatic messengers for trade, governance, and alliances. Languages like Greek, Latin, and Arabic were widely used as common languages among educated classes to facilitate communication across cultures.

• The printing press invented in the 15th century accelerated the spread of written communication by mass-producing books and pamphlets, spreading knowledge to a broader audience.

In summary, communication evolved from primitive gestures and signals to sophisticated spoken, written, and later printed forms, adapting tools and methods available in each period to share information locally and over long distances effectively.