Religion and Technological Determinism

Religion, specifically the Catholic church in the middle ages has influenced communication considerably. Technological determinism could be posited as an interplay in regards to the motivation platformed by the Catholic church. Due to the domination and monopoly of knowledge and literature, people outside the hierarchy of the Catholic church were excluded from evolving mentally and socially, and kept somewhat suppressed by the powerful knowledge bearing institution. The Catholic church maintained constraints over citizens by writing text in Latin. A complicated language to learn especially if required as a second language to understand verbally or written. By the 12th and 13th century texts were beginning to be produced in the vernacular, liberating minds and instilling a sense of culture and tradition within those societies (Crowley & Heyer 2011, p.64).

Crowley, D & Heyer, P 2011, Communication in history: technology, culture, society, 6th edn, Pearson, Sydney.