Ancient Greek Information Technology
Sarah Lemon
Being one of the earliest, flourishing civilizations, ancient Greece conceived and implemented methods of information technology and substantial modes of communication, leading to further scientific discovery. Before Linear B Script was developed into the first civilizes writing system, communication was still necessary and moreover, improvised. With militaristic tact, technological efficiency, and aesthetic persuasion, ancient Greek information technology broke new ground as Greek technology would continue to do for centuries.
With heavy conflict between itself and Sparta, among other places, Greece was very war-minded in its endeavors. The earliest social civilizations in Greece developed during the Stone Age, primarily dominated by Minoan and Mycenaean societies. However, beyond that there were many foreign influences on the Greek societies and social development. Scientific advancements were often made out of a necessity to improve and optimize warfare and communication during warfare, as well as aid in its victory. For example, the Stentorophonic horn was put to use during the leadership of Alexander the Great with primarily warfare purposes. Also called a “tube,” the horn effectively conveyed “messages” to thousands of people at once. It gave large groups these messages, often intending to inform another military group or leader of one’s location. The sound of the horn was able to reach about 13 miles away, depending on the weather and the density of the air. Deception and disinformation also played a large role in Greece’s war tactics, as most military leaders in ancient Greece put energy and resources into propaganda. A prime example of this deception would be the infamous Trojan horse. The Ancient Greek military commander Themistocles is also known to be the Master of Deception.
Short, urgent messages, like those sent with the stentorophonic horn, were also sent through light signals across the sky. (Saunders, How They Communicated in Ancient Greece) Torch telegraphs and heliographs were also used in war against the Romans. (Lahanas, Ancient Greek Communication Methods) Heliographs were a method of communication using sunlight and mirrors to indicate movement or a halting in movement. Another simple communication method was the use of colored flags to convey different messages depending on a previously agreed upon meaning for each color. All these different tools contributed to wartime efforts more than anything else.
Also aiding in warfare efforts but leading to further information technological advancements were the invention of cartography and the lighthouse. Anaximander of Greece was one of the first, main contributors to the production of a world map. Cartography combined science, aesthetics, and technique. The lighthouse assisted maritime travelers and naval warfare efforts in navigational guidance, originating in the 3rd Century BCE. Both of these ideas continued to develop and are still used today.
In a more artistic direction, Greece used sculpture and architecture partially to deviate from warfare resource consumption and “[woo] the masses” in a political sphere. (Taylor, Munitions of the Mind: Ancient Greece) These two forms of artistic expression provided a sense of “sophistication” to the culture as well as the beginnings of aesthetic-based rhetorical persuasion.
Ancient Greece made stellar bounds in regards to information technology. With visual communication being the primary source of information technology at the time, advances were being made. And though they may seem antiquely simple to us, they represented great societal strides in that time period and rhetorical situation. Largely the sociopolitical rhetorical emphasis on architecture and warfare communication carries over to more modern approaches to information technology and communication technology that we deal with on a day to day basis as individuals, communities, and nations.
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HR: None X_Sarah E. Lemon
Works Cited
Lahanas, Michael. “Ancient Greek Communication Methods.” Hellenicaworld.com. N.p., n.d. Web.
Saunders, Jen. “How They Communicated in Ancient Greece.” Synonym. Demand Media, n.d. Web.
Taylor, Philip M. “Chapter 2: Ancient Greece.” Munitions of the Mind: A History of Propaganda from the Ancient World to the Present Era. Manchester: Manchester UP, 2003. N. pag. Print.
Strauss, Barry. “Ancient Generals: Themistocles: Master of Deception.” Armchair General Magazine We Put YOU in Command. N.p., 16 Jan. 2005. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
