Facebook Is Actually A Modern Twist On A Centuries-Old Concept

Have you heard about Alba amicorum?

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• April 1, 2024

Social media feels like a brand-new thing that we can't live without, right? But guess what?

The idea behind it isn't new at all. Before we had the internet and all these apps on our phones, people were already doing something pretty similar, but in an old-school way.

Back in the day, like hundreds of years ago, people had these books called alba amicorum. Think of them as the paper version of Facebook or LinkedIn.

Instead of posting online or sending friend requests, people would hand over this book to their friends, who would then write messages, draw pictures, or leave notes. It was a way to keep track of who you knew and what you all thought about each other but without any screens involved.

So, when you're scrolling through your feed, feeling either happy to be connected with people far away or cringing at yet another awkward photo, remember that this whole idea of sharing bits of our lives and staying in touch isn't something the internet invented.

We've been wanting to do this for centuries, using whatever tools we had. Back then, it was a book and a pen. Now, it's our smartphones and laptops.

It's just how we like to keep up with each other, no matter the era. And who knows, maybe one day, the way we use social media now will seem just as old-fashioned to people in the future. Until then, just keep scrolling and check out how our ancestors used to do things!

"These books were used by young men and women in Northern Europe to record and keep track of friendships and professional relationships. "

People reckon this practice started around 1560.

"Alba amicorum literally means “friend book” in Latin. "

"These books were used by both boys and girls, but because of how society functioned in the 1600s, they used them for different reasons. "

Young men often embarked on trips across Europe to attend renowned universities and institutions, and to engage with influential intellectuals and academics. They relied on their networks of friends much like we utilize LinkedIn today, as a means of establishing valuable professional contacts.

"These images come from the book of Michael van der Meer, who recorded his travels with impressive illustrations. "

"Some images depict members of the aristocracy. "

"And he apparently spent time with pretty ladies. "

"This might be an early version of the “It’s Complicated” relationship option. "

When guys were off gallivanting around the continent, girls typically got shipped off to convents or ended up as ladies-in-waiting. This gave them a leg up in mingling with the elite. Sure, they didn't venture far, but they were still all about those friendship books.

Unlike the guys' journals filled with scholarly or artistic notes, the girls' books were packed with letters from pals and admirers, funny inside jokes, and juicy gossip from parties. If the guys' journals were LinkedIn, the girls' were more like Facebook.

"Juliana de Roussel’s friend book was beautifully decorated as well. "

"This one belonged to Jacoba Cornelia Bolten, who was a socialite during that time period. "

These books remind me a lot of Facebook but with a twist in technology. Instead of posting pictures and sharing articles, people wrote down their favorite sayings, song lyrics, and poems. Some women even penned their own poetry.

And get this, married couples could "update their status" by jotting down a note together. Yeah, seems like even back then, joint social media was a bit of a headache.

"Pages like this one from Margaretha Haghen’s book show guests recounting their time at a party. "

This passage goes, "On day two of Shrovetide, we penned this rhyme for you. We were too drunk to head home, love had us all smitten. We drained every last drop from the bottle." I guess some things never really change.

Album amicorum van Heinrich Flück

When we look at how people used to write in each other's alba amicorum books a long time ago, it's clear we've always liked to keep in touch and share stuff. It's kind of funny when you think about it.

The next time you see someone complaining about young people always being on Facebook or Instagram, you can remind them that people have always found ways to share the little things in life, even way back before the internet.

We're not doing anything new; we're just using phones and computers instead of paper and ink. It's just how we like to stay connected with our friends and show a bit of our lives, no matter what period we're in.

Damjan