Editing Knowledge (section)

== History ==
{{main|History of knowledge}}

The history of knowledge is the field of inquiry that studies how knowledge in different fields has developed and evolved in the course of history. It is closely related to the [[history of science]], but covers a wider area that includes knowledge from fields like [[History of philosophy|philosophy]], [[History of mathematics|mathematics]], [[History of education|education]], [[History of literature|literature]], [[History of art|art]], and [[History of religion|religion]]. It further covers practical knowledge of specific [[craft]]s, [[History of medicine|medicine]], and everyday practices. It investigates not only how knowledge is created and employed, but also how it is disseminated and preserved.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Burke|2015|loc=1. Knowledges and Their Histories: § History and Its Neighbours, 3. Processes: § Four Stages, 3. Processes: § Oral Transmission}} | {{harvnb|Doren|1992|pp=xvi–xviii}} | {{harvnb|Daston|2017|pp=142–143}} | {{harvnb|Mulsow|2018|p=159}} }}</ref>

[[Prehistory|Before the ancient period]], knowledge about social conduct and survival skills was passed down orally and in the form of customs from one generation to the next.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Bowen|Gelpi|Anweiler|2023|loc=§ Introduction, Prehistoric and Primitive Cultures}} | {{harvnb|Bartlett|Burton|2007|p=15}} | {{harvnb|Fagan|Durrani|2016|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=dCwlDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA15 15]}} | {{harvnb|Doren|1992|pp=3–4}} }}</ref> The [[ancient period]] saw the rise of major civilizations starting about 3000 BCE in [[Mesopotamia]], [[Ancient Egypt|Egypt]], [[Ancient India|India]], and [[Ancient China|China]]. The [[invention of writing]] in this period significantly increased the amount of stable knowledge within society since it could be stored and shared without being limited by [[Memory#Failures|imperfect human memory]].<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Doren|1992|pp=xxiii–xxiv, 3–4}} | {{harvnb|Friesen|2017|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=0Ks-DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA17 17–18]}} | {{harvnb|Danesi|2013|pp=168–169}} | {{harvnb|Steinberg|1995|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=VPs3kidEqXYC&pg=PA3 3–4]}} | {{harvnb|Thornton|Lanzer|2018|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=UCRZDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA7 7]}} }}</ref> During this time, the first developments in scientific fields like mathematics, astronomy, and medicine were made. They were later formalized and greatly expanded by the [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greeks]] starting in the 6th century BCE. Other ancient advancements concerned knowledge in the fields of agriculture, law, and politics.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Doren|1992|pp=xxiii–xxiv, 3–4, 29–30}} | {{harvnb|Conner|2009|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=EAo4DgAAQBAJ&pg=PT81 81]}} }}</ref>

[[File:Printing machine of Johanes Gutenbrg1.jpg|thumb|upright=.8|alt=Photo of a replica of the printing press created by Johannes Gutenberg|The invention of the printing press in the 15th century greatly expanded access to written materials.]]

In the [[medieval period]], religious knowledge was a central concern, and religious institutions, like the [[Catholic Church]] in Europe, influenced intellectual activity.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Burke|2015|loc=2. Concepts: § Authorities and Monopolies}} | {{harvnb|Kuhn|1992|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=HQ41EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA106 106]}} | {{harvnb|Thornton|Lanzer|2018|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=UCRZDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA7 7]}} }}</ref> Jewish communities set up [[yeshiva]]s as centers for studying religious texts and [[Halakha|Jewish law]].<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Bowker|2003|loc=[https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780192800947.001.0001/acref-9780192800947-e-8089?rskey=Ba4XPQ&result=1 Yeshivah ]}} | {{harvnb|Walton|2015|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Jv9tCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA130 130]}} }}</ref>  In the [[Muslim world]], [[madrasa]] schools were established and focused on [[Islamic law]] and [[Islamic philosophy]].<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Johnson|Stearns|2023|pp=5, 43–44, 47}} | {{harvnb|Esposito|2003|loc=[https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100125907 Madrasa]}} }}</ref> Many intellectual achievements of the ancient period were preserved, refined, and expanded during the [[Islamic Golden Age]] from the 8th to 13th centuries.<ref>{{harvnb|Trefil|2012|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=OD6iEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA49 49–51]}}</ref> Centers of higher learning were established in this period in various regions, like [[Al-Qarawiyyin University]] in Morocco,<ref>{{harvnb|Aqil|Babekri|Nadmi|2020|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=TGjvDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA156 156]}}</ref> the [[Al-Azhar University]] in Egypt,<ref>{{harvnb|Cosman|Jones|2009|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=-Jf5t1vFw1QC&pg=PA148 148]}}</ref> the [[House of Wisdom]] in Iraq,<ref>{{harvnb|Gilliot|2018|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=P-pGDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT81 81]}}</ref> and the first universities in Europe.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Bowen|Gelpi|Anweiler|2023|loc=§ The Development of the Universities}} | {{harvnb|Kemmis|Edwards-Groves|2017|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=fFM7DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA50 50]}} }}</ref> This period also saw the formation of [[guilds]], which preserved and advanced technical and craft knowledge.<ref>{{harvnb|Power|1970|pp=[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.$b201970&view=1up&seq=273 243–244]}}</ref>

In the [[Renaissance]] period, starting in the 14th century, there was a renewed interest in the [[humanities]] and sciences.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Celenza|2021|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Z_w7EAAAQBAJ&pg=PR9 ix–x]}} | {{harvnb|Black|Álvarez|2019|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=IQJ3EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA1 1]}} }}</ref> The [[printing press]] was invented in the 15th century and significantly increased the availability of written media and general [[literacy]] of the population.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Steinberg|1995|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=VPs3kidEqXYC&pg=PA5 5]}} | {{harvnb|Danesi|2013|pp=169–170}} }}</ref> These developments served as the foundation of the [[Scientific Revolution]] in the [[Age of Enlightenment]] starting in the 16th and 17th centuries. It led to an explosion of knowledge in fields such as physics, chemistry, biology, and the social sciences.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Doren|1992|pp=xxiv–xxv, 184–185}} | {{harvnb|Thornton|Lanzer|2018|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=UCRZDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA7 7]}} }}</ref> The technological advancements that accompanied this development made possible the [[Industrial Revolution]] in the 18th and 19th centuries.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Doren|1992|pp=xxiv–xxv, 213–214}} | {{harvnb|Thornton|Lanzer|2018|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=UCRZDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA7 7]}} }}</ref> In the 20th century, the development of computers and the Internet led to a vast expansion of knowledge by revolutionizing how knowledge is stored, shared, and created.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Thornton|Lanzer|2018|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=UCRZDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA8 8]}} | {{harvnb|Danesi|2013|pp=178–181}} }}</ref>{{efn|The internet also reduced the cost of accessing knowledge with a lot of [[Free content|information being freely available]].<ref> {{harvnb|Danesi|2013|pp=178–181}}</ref>}}