Final answer:
A computer network that connects multiple smaller networks over large geographical areas is known as a WAN (Wide Area Network), which played a significant role in the evolution of the Internet and the World Wide Web.
Step-by-step explanation:
A computer network connecting multiple smaller networks over very large geographical areas is known as a WAN (Wide Area Network). Networks like these allow for the communication and management of data across distant locations, significantly contributing to the way the Internet operates today. The origins of such networks can be traced back to research and development initiatives such as ARPANET, which connected government facilities and research universities. The concept of a global electronic network was proposed earlier by computer scientist JCR Licklider, with his vision of an "Intergalactic Computer Network". As the Internet evolved, so did the scope of networks, eventually creating an interconnected web of systems and information sharing on a global scale, termed the World Wide Web.