ABSTRACT
Active forms of conflict could consist in both rebellious actions, and actively approaching the authorities within a legal framework. An active and legal form of conflict-solving would thus be complaints, communicated orally or in writing, from collectives or individuals. We can see the development of a political culture defined by a mutually shared literacy. This can be interpreted as a contribution to state formation or state development, where broader segments of the population are active participants. Supplications or grievances brought to the authorities are thus an important part of the political tools of such a ‘textual community.’ Conflicts and their aftermaths then became a struggle to define who the oath-breakers were and so who was to blame for the break of mutual trust. The concept of mutual trust, although not disappearing, might be seen to be supported by a more contractual understanding of the relationship between rulers and ruled.
