How did medieval rulers communicate to their entire population effectively?

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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

26 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

They communicated with the people who were important: the local lords. The peasants are illiterate and the local lords problem.

Kings normally held court with the lords. Here are some comments on the orocess by way of reviewing part of the game CKIII

[https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiMtcL8gdWAAxWKjYkEHUZ-A8MQFnoECA8QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Facoup.blog%2F2022%2F02%2F18%2Fmiscellanea-thoughts-on-ckiii-royal-court%2F&usg=AOvVaw0KPAI4cteYR_7JN1vOc_87&opi=89978449](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiMtcL8gdWAAxWKjYkEHUZ-A8MQFnoECA8QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Facoup.blog%2F2022%2F02%2F18%2Fmiscellanea-thoughts-on-ckiii-royal-court%2F&usg=AOvVaw0KPAI4cteYR_7JN1vOc_87&opi=89978449)

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