Primary Source Analysis

Communication in Ancient Times

Communication is sometimes regarded as one of the most important aspects of human life. Today, technology rules the globe. Despite their loss of contact, various cultures adopted many means of communication throughout the ancient periods. Even among early capital, stones were the most popular means of communication. Texts were carved on stones to convey numerous messages that were deemed significant. When time passed, the focus shifted to other modes of communication. Papyrus sheets and inscribed sheets were later used as correspondence mediums. The article focuses on the Edwin Smith Papyrus and thoroughly explains and contextualizes it. In addition, the historical stakes of the papyrus are analyzed and based on secondary readings.

The Edwin Smith Papyrus

The Edwin Smith Papyrus was discovered in 1862 in Egypt (Allen 08). The papyrus was found just outside Luxor and is one of the most ancient surgical texts that exist. The scroll is a copy of the earlier text of around 3,000 B.C (Smith et al 33). The text gives information into the medical practices of the earlier Egyptians along the River Nile during the beginning of civilization. The script emphasizes on neurosurgery because it contains descriptions of the meninges, the intracranial pulsations, the cranial structures, the cerebrospinal fluid and the external surface of the brain. The papyrus is even more detailed in the medical practice with first-hand accounts of different types of dressing and stitching (Allen 09). According to the script, brain injuries are as a result of changes in the functioning of other body parts especially the hemiplegic contractures and lower limbs. Changes in the functioning of the body are described in the text in association with injuries to the cervical spine.

Edwin Smith: The Man Behind the Manuscript

The person who made the Manuscript available, Edwin Smith, was born in 1822 in Connecticut (Smith et al 9). In Egypt, Edwin Smith bought the manuscript roll although it lacked some of the outer portions in 1862 (Smith et al 10). Two months after the initial purchase, the same vandals sold him the missing parts glued onto a dummy roll. Despite Smith recognizing the fraud that occurred against him, he pieced the pieces together and tried to translate it. However, he did not succeed until 1930 when James Breasted the text and established their importance (Allen 45). Then, Breasted was a director at the Chicago University and had been requested to translate the papyrus after receiving it from Edwin Smith’s daughter in 1906.

The Contents of the Papyrus

According to Breasted findings, the papyrus is a copy of the earlier composite manuscript which contained 69 explanatory notes and whose author existed between (3000-2500 B.C.) (Allen 112). The papyrus further contains 48 case histories that are systematically arranged. The cases begin with head injuries and proceed downwards to the spine and thorax where the document suddenly ends. The cases in the script are not individual but typical and every case has a title, examination, diagnosis and treatment. There are also actual differences medico-magical measures and rational surgical treatments. Among the 48 cases mentioned in the Edwin Smith Papyrus, 27 are concerned with head injuries, 11 with skull fractures, 3 with head injuries, 6 with spine trauma and 4 with deep scalp wounds (Allen 65). The Edwin Smith Papyrus is important to the world of medicine today. It not only provides a rich history on how the improvements that have been made but also offers a greater understanding in to medicine and hieratic.

The Role of Papyrus in Communication

Papyrus was a light medium of communication compared to stones. It was made from a pant that could only be found on the Nile delta and was later become a writing material near the marshes where it grew (Innis 14). The stems of the plant were cut into measured lengths and their green rind removed. The measured stem lengths were then cut into thick strips and laid parallel to one another. The sheets would then be hammered with a mallet and welded into a single that were later pressed and dried. The sheets were then fastened to make rolls and later transported to different areas due to its light nature. Writing was done by a kind of rush. The rushes were cut in a slanting manner at one end and bruised to separate the fibers. The palette of the scribe had two cups for a water pot, black and red ink. Texts were written in a vertical column from right to left. The use of Papyrus also saw thoughts get lighter. Communication via stone was characterized by rectangularity of form, an upright position and circularity of line. However, the use of papyrus saw the use of curative forms that suited rapid writing (Innis 14). Hieroglyhs when inscribed on stones, decorative and carefully formed. However, when written on papyrus, they were simpler and more rounded in form. The move away from stone writing also saw an increase in reflection, observation and interest. Additionally, increased writing by hand also saw thee increased flow of eloquence and a displacement of religion by secular literature.

The Impact of Papyrus Writing

Increased papyrus writing also brought with it several changes. New religions accompanied the democratic revolution. Power was redistributed and medicine became even more advanced. Tallies could also be more easily done as a result of papyrus writing in Egypt. Legal contracts, land transfers, and deeds of sale could not be done on papyrus that were more lighter and easier to work on. Inventories, accounts of temples and records were done using papyrus. Thus, the papyrus writing opened up writing and made it simpler and more universal for everyone. Medicine also advanced due to increase in papyrus writing (Innis 15). Knowledge increased leading to rivalry and conflict among different groups.

Conclusion

In conclusion, papyrus writing played a major role in writing. It marked the end of stone writing that was heavier and less flexible. The Edwin Smith Papyrus is a great source of just how ancient communication was done. The text contains information about medicine, with focus on neurosurgery. It is systemically arranged from left to right with 48 case histories all of which have a title, examination, diagnosis and treatment. The papyrus writing played an important role in the ancient Egypt. It not only had an impact on medicine and surgery but also on religion, power distribution, property and culture. The papyrus writing was however surpassed by paper which is still being used in the modern day. Thus, communication has undergone major transitions over the years with the goals of achieving the best medium of communication.

Works Cited

Allen, James P. The Art of Medicine in Ancient Egypt. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2005. Print.

Innis, Harold. “Media In Ancient Empires.” Print.

Smith, Edwin, Gonzalo M. Sanchez, Edmund S. Meltzer, and W B. Harer. The Edwin Smith Papyrus: Updated Translation of the Trauma Treatise and Modern Medical Commentaries. Atlanta, Georgia: Lockwood Press, 2012. Print.