Knowledge Really Becomes Power

“You have invented an elixir not of memory but of reminding; and you offer your pupils the appearance of wisdom, not true wisdom, for they will read many things without instruction and will therefore seem to know many things, when they are for the most part ignorant.” Socrates (Robinson 28)

The emergence of tokens and papyrus and paper in ancient civilizations had the same impact that the introduction of the mobile phone had in the 21^st century; mass shifts in power. Suddenly the man with the knowledge wasn’t the only one who knew. Suddenly his words could go farther than his voice and once the knowledge was mobile it was available for others to interpret. And with those mass shifts of power came new rules. Writing became restricted to government, magic, fiscal and religious powers. A new role; the scribe, was created. Scribes didn’t have to pay taxes or dues, and literacy became a means of social prosperity.

With the knowledge that “knowledge is power” many Kings and religious leaders used that to their advantage. Mortal kings are now Gods with the story written in stone, clay or papyrus to prove it. Wars that were lost are recorded as being won. And some of the earliest forms of propaganda begin. The development of writing and the beginning of the access to it can be seen as a blessing and a curse.

The Blessing

• The demand for more scribes and the difficulty of writing creates schools.

• Schools are created

• Education all though it takes a long time to reach masses, creates worldwide progress

• Language can be written down and studied

• Means of communication can be carried to different places, opening up opportunities for trade between industry nations and countries

• “Practically every act of civil life was a matter of law that was recorded and confirmed by the seals of contracting parties and witnesses.” (Innis 20)
  

This made life that much easier to live. If there was a dispute in a community instead of just killing each other, citizens now had ways to record the problem and the ordered solution.

The Curse

• Schools are built through churches and religion controls education

Because religion controls education the views of the scribes and the laws and rules of the world whether they be right are wrong are heavily controlled by religion.

• Writing, like all things can be used for evil and propaganda becomes a means to gaining the trust and belief of the public

• Progress leads to conflict and wars erupt with more intensity
  

Like most things in life, the introduction of these media came with good and bad. But the good definitely outweighs the bad. Without the invention of paper and tokens we would not have the ability to read, write or do basic algebra. These abilities are now largely taken for granted but without it, life as we know it would resort to being only about survival. With writing and the development of our ability to record came an increase in general knowledge. Being able to record our history in turn gave us the ability to learn from our past, predict the future and an overall improvement in quality of life.

Innis, Harold "Media in Ancient Empire" , Communication in History Sixth Edition 2011

Robinson, Andrew "The Orgins of Writing", Communication in History Sixth Edition 2011