History - Early modern Europe
News sharing
- First newsletters: 15th century
- First newspapers: 17th century
Rumors and propaganda: Great fire of 64 C.E.
- in 64 C.E., a great fire breaks out in Rome and burns for days
- rumor blames Nero, the emperor and he reflects the rumors by accusing the Christians (new religion)
- Christians are persecuted
(the fire was likely an accident caused but the hot windy month of July)
Newsletters and Newspapers
Newsletters: compilation of news, national and international, handwritten and sent to subscribers
Newspapers: low countries, compiled international news received through newsletters + local news
- Challenge: fact-checking (a lot of fake news and rumors circulate in newsletters and newspapers)
What kind of disinformation?
- propaganda - forged documents
- smear campaigns - rumors/conspiracy
- fabricated news
Forgeries: Donation of Constantine
Definition: documents created with a specific goal in mind. Usually asserting one's property rights, inheritance rights.
- forged decree saying the roman emperor Constantine would have given authority over the Empire to the pope of Rome
Conspiracies: The Blood Libel - Poisoning of wells
- in the 12th century, rumor in England that Jewish people murder Christian children rituals and use their blood to make Passover bread
- jews are accused of ritual murders are killed by a Christian crowd
- Christian ruler evicts Jews from their kingdoms and seize their estates. Western church take measure against the Jewish communities
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- European Jews accused of causing the Black death (second plague pandemic) by poisoning the wells
Smear Campaign: The Templars
Definition: religious military order established during the crusades
- Powerful and VERY wealthy. Loaned a lot of money to the king of France. Protected by the papacy
- In 1307 the French Crown tried the Templars for heresy, sodomy, idolatry. The master of the order is burnt at the stake, the order is dissolved and their estates seized.