In the early sixth century in Rome there was the practice of keeping a record of the lives of popes in what was known as Liber Pontificalis. "The orthodox collection of these lives was continued well into the Middle Ages and is a standard historical source, whose value for popes, from the late fifth century onwards particularly is well known" (O'Donnell 38). But these writings in Latin Christianity were confined to a well-educated, powerful minority (papacy/clergy) who used "the written word with sophistication to organize and control their world" (O'Donnell 38). They used these (often for…