The Origins of Strategic Communication: Precedents and Parallels in Ancient States

Abstract

When, where, and why did communication strategy originate? Global communication strategy is a present-day preoccupation, but ancient states were the first to manage messages over large distances and time periods. They did this to entrench a permanent, convincing identity that embodied political power. To achieve their goal other forms of power were exploited and expressed as organized communication including religion, armed force, and administration. Early states created a distinct process to legitimize leadership and counter time and space obstacles like slow communication media, regional diversity, and the challenge to collective memory posed by limited access to written information and instruction. This article examines historical research and suggests that advanced strategic communication knowledge existed in premodern societies.