On January 15, 2001, Wikipedia launched as a free online encyclopedia that anyone could edit. At a time when most reference information came from textbooks or paid encyclopedias, Wikipedia introduced a radical idea: knowledge built collaboratively and shared freely with the world. Despite early skepticism, it grew into one of the most visited websites on Earth, reshaping how people learn, research, and share information. #Wikipedia #InternetHistory #TodayInHistory #digitalhistory #freeknowledge