Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Encrypted communication
(2,393 words)

1. Introduction

The aspect of encrypted communication that was most relevant in the early modern period was cryptography. For centuries, confidential letters and dispatches were written in secret scripts that denied third parties access to their content. Encryption was first done using numerals, then quickly with ordinary letters and invented symbols. Competent cryptoanalysts were in…

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Beyrer, Klaus, “Encrypted communication”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_029655>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20170626



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