To put things in a different perspective, imagine how much information about a farmer had an ancient imperor? How fast or effectively he could move the feelings

To put things in a different perspective, imagine how much information about a farmer had an ancient imperor? How fast or effectively he could move the feelings of the people? Or order his army to attack or change tactics? Or how many months or years a pope from Middle Age would take to spread some dogma to all faithful? When I relate these questions to what we have today I can't help but think that if we do not pay attention we'll head to a world with less and less freedom.