Geschichte der Wikipedia

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Published: 2026-10-03T01:09:27.333Z • Permanent link

Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger are credited with creating Wikipedia in 2001, initially with the name Nupedia. Nupedia was a free online encyclopedia that relied on expert approval for articles to be published. However, the process was slow and cumbersome, with many articles taking months or even years to be reviewed and published. Wales and Sanger recognized the need for a faster, more collaborative approach and decided to create a new wiki-based platform called Wikipedia. The name was chosen to reflect the platform's focus on collaborative editing and the idea of a "wiki" as a collaborative workspace. Wikipedia was officially launched on January 15, 2001, and quickly gained popularity due to its ease of use and the ability for anyone to edit articles.

Wikipedia's early success was largely due to its association with the non-profit organization Wikimedia Foundation, which was established in 2003 to support the platform. The foundation's first executive director, Sue Gardner, played a crucial role in shaping Wikipedia's early development and establishing its values. Wikipedia's early growth was also fueled by the efforts of its first community of editors, who worked tirelessly to create and improve the platform. By 2005, Wikipedia had become one of the most popular websites in the world, with millions of articles and a community of millions of editors.

Wikipedia's success has been marked by numerous milestones and achievements, including the creation of over 50 million articles in hundreds of languages and the establishment of a robust system for tracking and managing content. Wikipedia's impact extends beyond its own platform, with many institutions and organizations relying on its content for research and education. For example, the World Health Organization uses Wikipedia to provide information on diseases and health conditions, and the Library of Congress has partnered with Wikipedia to provide access to its collections.

Wikipedia's impact on the Global Knowledge Bases domain has been significant, with many companies and research communities relying on the platform for information and collaboration. Companies such as Google and Microsoft have partnered with Wikipedia to provide access to its content and improve its search functionality. Research communities have also relied on Wikipedia to provide information on a wide range of topics, from science and history to culture and entertainment. However, Wikipedia's reliance on user-generated content has also raised concerns about accuracy and reliability, with many experts arguing that the platform's open-editing model makes it vulnerable to vandalism and misinformation.

The impact of Wikipedia on the education sector has also been significant, with many schools and universities using the platform to provide students with access to a wide range of educational resources. However, the platform's lack of structure and organization has also raised concerns about its ability to provide a comprehensive and accurate education. Despite these challenges, Wikipedia remains a vital resource for many researchers and educators, providing a platform for collaboration and information-sharing that is unparalleled in its scope and accessibility.

The development of Wikipedia was influenced by a range of prior events and approaches, including the creation of the World Wide Web and the emergence of online communities and forums. The concept of a collaborative wiki-based platform was also influenced by earlier platforms such as Nupedia and other online encyclopedias. However, Wikipedia's approach was unique in its emphasis on user-generated content and its reliance on a community of volunteer editors. This approach has been influential in shaping the development of subsequent knowledge bases and collaborative platforms, including platforms such as GitHub and Stack Overflow.