Television or The television

[Tom]

Hello

Which sentence is correct?

1- I wonder how people spent their time before the
invention of television.

2-I wonder how people spent their time before the
invention of the television.

Thanks in advance

Tom

[Mister Micawber]

.
Both are fine.
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber

[Tom]

Thank you, Mr.Micawber

But once Amy said that the given sentence would be incorrect without the .

1- Life would be quieter without the telephone.

I need some light shed on both of the sentences, please. Why is "the" mendatory in one and not in the other?

Thanks

Tom

[Mister Micawber]

.
Television is a medium; the telephone is not.
Television is uncountable, like telephony (which is also a medium); the telephone is not.
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber

[Tom]

Bags and bags of thanks Mr. Micawber.

Last question:

Are we traeting television as a medium in the first sentence and as an invention in the second????? See below, please.

1- I wonder how people spent their time before the
invention of television.

2-I wonder how people spent their time before the
invention of the television.

Ever yours

Tom

[Mister Micawber]

.
Sort of, Tom-- #1 is the process and #2 is the instrument.
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber