Maybe a weird/stupid question. Today we have mass media, and any new law/political scandal that happens reaches almost everyone instantly. Previously, radio broadcasts. Before telecommunications, information could go around presumably by letters, word of mouth, etc. Before even any of that, how would entire populations in, for example, the 11th century find out about new laws that were passed in their country, or if their country was going to war, and was it ever possible to communicate this fairly quickly (that is, within a week or two?)
In: 1822
So…a couple of things: 1) “Kingdoms” were a **lot** smaller in the 1100s. 2) a great many of the laws weren’t codified, everyone just “knew” 3) Town criers have been a thing since Ancient Egypt (different forms from time to time, but the same function) 4) war meant rallying troops (“commoners”), so warriors would go to towns and recruit people. That kind of thing happened fairly quickly and finally, 5 – the funny one) women have an intelligence network that surpasses the CIA. Whisper a secret in one’s ear, and before you can blink, they know about it a continent away, even (and especially) in the 1100s…
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