Wikipedia, The Free Collaborative Encyclopaedia

Find out how Wikipedia became an internet giant in just 50 minutes!

With over 40 million articles in almost 300 languages and dialects, Wikipedia is the largest and most influential encyclopaedia in the world. This success is all the more astonishing considering that the site relies on volunteers to write and edit its articles, and makes no money from advertising. At a time when traditional encyclopaedias were struggling to adapt to the rise of the internet, Wikipedia revolutionised the sector with its free, collaborative model. In this concise and accessible guide, you will find out how founders Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger were able to democratise encyclopaedias and turn their unconventional project into one of the most frequently consulted sites in the world.

In 50 minutes you will:

• Learn about Wikipedia’s history, from its launch in 2001 right up to the present day

• Understand the key principles behind the site’s functioning

• Find out about related projects, including Wikimedia Commons and Wikidata

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The Business Stories series from the 50Minutes collection provides the tools to quickly understand the innovative companies that have shaped the modern business world. Our publications will give you contextual information, an analysis of business strategies and an introduction to future trends and opportunities in a clear and easily digestible format, making them the ideal starting point for readers looking to understand what makes these companies stand out.