Historical Surveillance examines how rulers throughout history monitored populations and controlled information, linking these practices to governance and military strength.
The book moves beyond modern technology to explore pre-digital surveillance, revealing how early forms of record-keeping, like census taking and geographical surveys, laid the groundwork for more sophisticated methods.
Effective governance was often tied to gathering and using information about the populace, enabling rulers to anticipate threats and manage resources.
The book investigates population monitoring through spies and registries, control of information via censorship and propaganda, and intelligence application in military and policy decisions.
Evidence is drawn from royal decrees, personal letters, and statistical data, offering a comprehensive view of historical surveillance.
By analyzing surveillance techniques across cultures and time periods, the book provides a unique comparative perspective.
Readers will gain insights into the historical context of contemporary debates about privacy and state power.
The book progresses chronologically, starting from ancient empires and moving to early modern nation-states, focusing primarily on pre-20th century practices.
This approach enables a deeper understanding of the enduring tension between security and individual rights.
