How ancient civilisations influenced the modern security industryHow ancient civilisations influenced the modern security industry
Modern security companies such as the experts here at trusthire.co.uk use technologies such as mobile CCTV towers and biometric scanners to keep their client’s property protected from external threats, but how exactly did people keep their treasure safe before such technology existed?
This is exactly what we are about to find out, taking a look into the history of the security industry and how we can use the lessons of the past to create a more secure future.
Ancient Egypt
Like many history lessons, our story starts with ancient Egypt, a civilisation that is well-renowned for their pyramids and other grand burial sites containing all sorts of shiny treasures. These structures were built as tombs for pharaohs and contained many of their worldly possessions that would have been highly attractive to the thieves of the time.
To preserve and protect these sacred places, the Egyptians built all sorts of hidden mazes, passages, and false chambers into the pyramids to deter tomb raiders from targeting them. More sinisterly, they also hid traps to harm thieves and spread the word that anyone who did target these tombs would be cursed. Perhaps not techniques that would be recommended as part of a modern security plan, but there can be no arguing that they weren’t effective and the treasures of the pharaohs have been preserved for many centuries as a result.
Mesopotamia
In ancient Mesopotamia, merchants would store their valuable records on clay tablets, including details of their trade agreements and contracts with other merchants or wealthy people.
To prevent theft of these tablets from costing merchants, and their contacts, money, the Mesopotamians would encode the writing on these tablets so the layman would be unable to understand them. The society also introduced significant penalties for those who attempted to steal.
Whilst we have moved past storing information on stone tablets, the idea of encrypting sensitive data to protect business activity and client information from falling into the wrong hands is one that remains to this day, and is the cornerstone of modern cyber security.
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome is widely considered as the birthplace of what we would consider to be security guarding in the form that we know it today.
Rome was one of the largest and most powerful civilisations to ever exist, probably THE largest and most powerful, and it is safe to say that they have plenty of valuable items that needed to be protected.
It was not unusual at the time for members of the army to protect important senior figures within the establishment, but the Romans took this one step further. They had guards whose sole responsibility it way to guard a single temple or building and prevent thieves from getting inside. Whilst the tools for identifying these individuals have changed, and the way they are treated afterwards certainly has, the idea of stationing guards around the perimeter or at the entrance of a property to stop unauthorised individuals is an essential component of a modern security system.