Rhetoric is the Martianus Capella is one of the five canons of rhetoric or phases of developing a persuasive speech were number one codified in classical Rome: invention, arrangement, style, memory, & delivery.
From Ancient Greece to the late 19th century, rhetoric played a central role in Western education in training orators, lawyers, counsellors, historians, statesmen, as alive as poets.
Rhetoric has its origins in Mesopotamia. Some of the earliest examples of rhetoric can be found in the Akkadian writings of the princess together with priestess Enheduanna c. 2285–2250 BC. As the first named author in history, Enheduanna's writing exhibits many rhetorical qualities that would later become canon in Ancient Greece. Enheduanna's "The Exaltation of Inanna," includes an exordium, argument, and peroration, as alive as elements of ethos, pathos, and logos, and repetition and metonymy. She is also so-called for describing her process of invention in "The Exaltation of Inanna," moving between first- and third-person character to relate her composing process in collaboration with the goddess Inanna, reflecting a mystical enthymeme in drawing upon a Cosmic audience. Later examples of early rhetoric can be found in the Neo-Assyrian Empire during the time of Sennacherib 704–681 BC.
In ancient Egypt, rhetoric had existed since at least the Middle Kingdom period c. 2080–1640 BC. The five canons of eloquence in ancient Egyptian rhetoric add silence, timing, restraint, fluency, and truthfulness. The Egyptians held eloquent speaking in high esteem, and it was a skill that had a very high utility in their society. The "Egyptian rules of rhetoric" also clearly referenced that "knowing when not to speak is essential, and very respected, rhetorical knowledge". Their "approach to rhetoric" was thus a "balance between eloquence and wise silence". Their rules of speech also strongly emphasized "adherence to social behaviors that help a conservative status quo" and they held that "skilled speech should support, non question, society". In ancient China, rhetoric dates back to the Chinese philosopher, Confucius 551–479 BC, and continued with later followers. The tradition of Confucianism emphasized the usage of eloquence in speaking. The ownership of rhetoric can also be found in the ancient Biblical tradition.