Early Propaganda
The use of propaganda began as early as 480 BCE.
Examples include the Ancient Greek commander Themistocles using propaganda to delay the action and then defeat his enemy Xerxes in 480 BCE and also another example of early propaganda being the Behistun Inscription detailing Darius I’s ascent to the Persian throne in 515 BCE.
As well as this, Alexander put his image on coins,monuments and statues as a form of propaganda.
Even though these are examples of early propaganda, it was the catholic church that officially formalised the use of propaganda and gave it the name we know it as today.
An example of this, is Pope Urban II used Propaganda to obtain support for the crusades, although, later on due to the printing press, propaganda became too powerful of a tool for both catholics and protestants during the reformation as due to the printing press, propaganda could be disseminated to a much wider audience.
Though, In 1622, Pope Gregory XV, established the 'Congregatio de propaganda fide' which means, 'congregation for propagating the faith'
This was created in the purpose of promoting faith to non catholic countries.
Over time, the group was shortened to the name that is well known today, 'Propaganda'
As literacy rates grew, propaganda became a much more useful tool around the world.
It wasn't until the 19th century that propaganda had turned into the form that we are familiar with today. This was due to most people now being literate and people having more of an interest in government affairs.
politicians found it necessary to sway the public opinion and therefore used propaganda.
The propaganda campaign of the 1800s was the indian rebellion in 1851, where indian sepoys rebelled against the British east India company rule. In response to this, the British exaggerated and fabricated tales that Indian Men were raping english Woman and children, when they may not have been in particular.
These stories were created to illustrate the 'savagery' of the Indian People and also make clear and reinforce the notion of 'the white man's burden' to rule over parts of India.
The USA and the UK also used propaganda to support their causes. and example being slavery cases which were often exaggerated and eroticized making the causes more lured.
Other examples of rise in propaganda was political cartoons that were starting to rise.
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