This bi-monthly reading group discusses the many ways in which information contributed to the development of human societies. Concentrating on Continental Europe, parts of Asia and Africa, the British Isles and the Americas, we will have a look at postal systems, letter and print networks, travel and merchant routes, the reach of education, and finally the impact of displays, such as princely cabinets of curiosity, cathedral libraries, city archives, and other material worlds of knowledge. The group not only scrutinizes the concept and reality of information in many new ways, but it also challenges commonly used interpretations of key events and developments in history by looking at them from the novel perspective of information. Let's get together and make a reading list. Please email me with suggestions for our schedule! More information: Anja-Silvia Goeing agoeing@fas.harvard.edu