VII. A Web of Interconnections  ↑

52. Written culture allow groups to expand over time and space.

Tribes have historically been limited in size by geography (at least prior to digital technology — but let’s leave that subject for another discussion).

But once groups began to develop written cultures, including stories and symbols and rituals and rules, those writings could be used to bind together groups so large that they crossed oceans and spanned continents. Written culture could also be used to transmit these elements from one generation to the next, allowing such groups to span centuries as well.

Of course, once such cultural elements are written down, they are hard to change, since it is hard to produce an authority and rationale for making such changes.

In modern society, these sorts of structures are generally found in religions, in constitutional governments, and in large bureaucracies.

This organizational paradigm encourages loyalty to scripture, including documented stories, symbols and precepts.

These sorts of groups believe in the rule of law.