Final answer:
Mass communication in the contemporary sense began to emerge in the mid-1800s with the invention of the telegraph, which allowed for instantaneous long-distance message transmission.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of mass communication as we understand it today began to take shape in the mid-1800s with the advent of the telegraph. The question "About what year in human history did mass communication first exist?" refers to a period when the transmission of messages over long distances could happen rapidly. Based on historical developments, the most accurate answer would be option c. 1600 CE.
However, significant advancements in communications technology, particularly the invention of the telegraph and rapid transmission of information, took place in the mid-1800s. Prior to this, forms of communication were much slower and could not operate on a mass scale.