Ever since humans began using their minds to master their environment, the【B

Ever since humans began using their minds to master their environment, the(36)possession and use of an excellent memory has been(37)crucial for anyone rising to positions of command and respect. No great leader in human history was thought to have a bad memory. As a matter of fact, the people who are looked down upon by history, (38)aside from not having good leadership skills, often were the ones with poor memories.
    The use of memory(39)techniques reached its summit in the Middle Ages. People in the Middle Ages were crazy about memory systems. It seems to have had a lot to do with the(40)scarcity of paper, but there were other reasons as well. (41)Complicated systems in religion, law, government, business, and what we would nowadays call " media" were developing. In short, there was a lot to memorize. Everything in European culture of the time reflected people’s efforts to organize information in their heads. Cathedrals. with their painted wall paintings and(42)stained glass windows were systems for memorizing the Bible, the Saints and the teachings of the church. Multi-colored manuscripts were vivid and colorful(43)representations which helped in the retention of information.
    The use of color was a new device brought in to expand the ancient memory systems. Merchants and businessmen memorized enormous poems, hundreds of lines long, (45)which contained all the rules of business and codes of conduct. Traveling storytellers called Jongleurs, who were basically the news anchors of the Middle Ages, would often get together for memory competitions. It was(46)one of the most practical skills anyone could have and it was used in every facet of life.