2.1 Early Forms of Communication

Early forms of communication laid the foundation for human connection and knowledge sharing. From oral traditions to cave paintings, these methods allowed our ancestors to pass down stories, record events, and express ideas. They showcased our innate desire to connect and leave lasting impressions.

The development of writing systems and the invention of the printing press revolutionized information sharing. These advancements allowed for more precise record-keeping, wider dissemination of knowledge, and the preservation of complex ideas. They paved the way for modern communication technologies we rely on today.

Early Forms of Communication

Evolution of oral traditions

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• Oral traditions served as the primary means of communication and information sharing in early human societies
  • Storytelling, myths, and legends passed down knowledge, history, and cultural values across generations (epic of Gilgamesh, Aboriginal dreamtime stories)
  • Maintained social cohesion and a sense of shared identity within communities
• Development of language and speech enabled more complex and nuanced communication
  • Expanded the scope of oral traditions by allowing the conveyance of abstract ideas and concepts
• Mnemonic devices employed to aid in memorization and transmission of oral traditions
  • Rhyme, rhythm, and repetition helped preserve accuracy and consistency (epic poetry, chants)
• Oral traditions performed in social gatherings, religious ceremonies, and communal events
  • Served to entertain, educate, and reinforce cultural norms and values (campfire stories, religious rituals)

Significance of early visual communication

• Cave paintings and petroglyphs among the earliest known forms of visual communication
  • Created by prehistoric humans, dating back as far as 40,000 years ago (Lascaux caves, Altamira cave)
• Cave paintings depicted animals, hunting scenes, and aspects of daily life
  • May have served to record events, tell stories, or convey important information (Chauvet cave, Sulawesi cave art)
• Petroglyphs are rock carvings or engravings created by removing part of a rock surface
  • Often symbolic or representational, depicting animals, human figures, and abstract designs (Twyfelfontein, Gobustan petroglyphs)
• Demonstrate human capacity for symbolic thought and desire to express ideas visually
• Creation of images may have served spiritual or ritualistic purposes
  • Frequent placement in sacred or hard-to-reach locations suggests ceremonial significance (Cueva de las Manos, Tassili n'Ajjer)

Development of early writing systems

• Invention of writing systems marked significant milestone in human communication and knowledge preservation
• Cuneiform developed by Sumerians in ancient Mesopotamia around 3500 BCE
  • Written by pressing wedge-shaped stylus into clay tablets, creating characteristic wedge-shaped marks
  • Initially used for record-keeping, later evolved to represent spoken language (Sumerian king lists, Epic of Gilgamesh)
• Hieroglyphics emerged in ancient Egypt around 3200 BCE
  • Combination of logographic, syllabic, and alphabetic elements representing words, sounds, and ideas
  • Used primarily by priestly class, often found on temple walls, tombs, and monumental structures (Rosetta Stone, Narmer Palette)
• Allowed for permanent recording of information, ideas, and knowledge
  • Facilitated growth of complex societies through administration, trade, and transmission of cultural and intellectual heritage

Impact of the printing press

• Invention of printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in 15th century revolutionized dissemination of information and knowledge
• Allowed for mass production of books, pamphlets, and written materials
  • Greatly reduced cost and time required to produce written works, increasing accessibility (Gutenberg Bible, broadsheets)
• Increased availability of printed materials facilitated spread of ideas, knowledge, and literacy
  • Profound impact on education as more people could access and engage with written texts
• Played significant role in scientific revolution
  • Scholars could more easily share and build upon each other's work, accelerating pace of scientific discovery and innovation (scientific journals, treatises)
• Major impact on religious and political movements
  • Mass-production and distribution of religious texts contributed to Protestant Reformation and challenge to Catholic Church authority (Luther's 95 Theses)
  • Spread of political pamphlets and broadsheets shaped public opinion and fueled revolutionary movements (Common Sense, Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen)