ABSTRACT
In theory and in practice, rhetorical communication has a long and distinguished history. Since this book has evolved from that tradition, it is important to become familiar with some of that history to better understand how we got to where we are today. It is not possible to present a complete survey of that history within the limited space available here. Such a survey would necessitate not several chapters in a book, but several volumes. This survey, therefore, must be sketchy and selective, restricted to introducing some of the key figures and some of the significant developments in the long history of rhetorical communication. It does not include the great orators of history, although their contribution to the theory of rhetorical communication has certainly been important. Rather, attention focuses primarily on the authors whose works have influenced the development of rhetorical theory. In some cases, the influence has been positive; in others, negative. The purpose here is merely to indicate some of the highlights of the history of rhetorical communication in order to provide a better base from which to evaluate and understand the theory discussed throughout this book.
