How Cryptography Is Defined As A Major Factor During Wars,...

The â€Å"Ignominious Tribe,† the worlds â€Å"second oldest profession,† these are both describing the same thing, the mysterious profession that lives in the shadows of history. Espionage. Governments fear it, yet it is always a major factor during wars, and it isn’t very well known by the general public. Men and women throughout history who have fought in secret positions during wars, often placed into positions of great danger. Why were they willing to risk so much for their countries? Profit? Honor? Adrenaline? There are many aspects of the art of espionage, from the necessary grunt work of field agents to the solid determination of cryptologists. Cryptography is defined as the art of writing and solving codes, a necessary practice for all sides involved in any major battle or power struggle, an example being World War II, where coding and cipher script were integral parts of the conflict, main factors of every win or loss. Without cryptography, some estimat e that the war would have lasted at least two years longer than it did, thus proving the necessary function of cryptography. In the following pages, the reader will learn a brief history of the evolution of cryptography, and how it was important in such major recent struggles as WWII. This form of espionage has been an integral part of history. Espionage has been recognized as an important part of all military affairs since the beginnings of recorded history. It began with, and still heavily relies upon, the various forms of