Sophists

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Ancient society was virtually illiterate. Only a few rich people could afford to attend school. Consequently, almost all communication took place by means of the spoken word, and the art of speaking in public was considered one of the most important of all human activities. Or, formulated more precisely: one of the most important of all male activities, because female orators were almost unknown.

The first to think about rhetorics were the so-called 'sophists' ('intellectuals') of the fifth century BCE, who taught the sons of noble Athenians how to convince or influence the people's assembly.