Why should we study the media of early civilizations?

Understanding how early civilizations communicated is a great way to understand how people perceive communication and why communication developed in society.

The use of symbols and later hieroglyphics as a means of communication and record keeping is still pertinent today. Modern symbols are seen all day every day. Brand logo recognition is a form of communication that has its routes traced back thousands of years. Although our society will never go back to a picture based form of communication exclusively, as we have a well developed alphabetic form, hieroglyphics and logograms have stood the test of time and has simply evolved and become a subsection of communication.

Understanding how ancient civilizations and scribes seen writing and communication as so important that was reserved for only the highest of society. This can help understand that communication is very valuable and should not be taken for granted. To think that the legacy of kings and highly influential people could be recorded, but not the thoughts of an average person is enlightening. It makes a person appreciate the capability that we have with communication and the rights we are given.

It is also interesting to learn that the origins of writing were not always noble. Just as we have to use discretion when reading now, it was the same back then. Propaganda dates back as far back as writing does.  Even though writing has evolved, the reasoning behind it has not.

Understanding how communication has evolved and how primitive some forms of communication is will be vital to having a strong grasp on understanding and using communication. It is interesting to learn the history, but it is important to understand and comprehend the evolution of this art that has become the main stay of life.