How Did The Internet Begin?

In 1969 an agency of the US Department of Defense called DARPA funded an experimental network called ARPANET or Advanced Research Projects Agency NETwork. For security reasons, the Department of Defense wanted a network that would be geographically dispersed, and be able to function even if part of the network was destroyed. They also wanted a network that would allow researchers from different locations to be able to share information.

To achieve this goal, ARPANET was designed as a redundant network. This means that a message can travel many different paths to get to its final destination. Thus, if part of the network is destroyed, the message can still get to its final destination.