It was quite some time ago that America Online Inc (AOL) gave us a simple way of producing a web site with AOLPress. Since then many different ways have evolved and this is likely to expand in future years. The horizon is always out there.
Most of the websites were static html. Each page was planned out and hand coded to match the plan.
Individuals could make their own sites without going to specialist development firms. Knowledge of html was not needed.
Lots of facilities, tools for including animation, sound, etc...
The PC Magazine regularly does comparisons of the various packages available.