Anthropologists, psychologists, and historians believe that storytelling has been with us since the beginning of our existence - in fact, they argue that storytelling is that which defines our humanity. For thousands of years, as people struggled to survive, they passed through stories what wisdom and knowledge they accumulated. In early times, storytelling was used to explain significant and often confusing events such as storms, tidal waves, lightening, and fire. Special types of stories about heroes and gods, were used to bind individuals to common belief systems. Moral tales conveyed the first codes or laws that ensured the harmony, cooperation, and ultimately the success of early human populations.

Since prehistory, stories have taken many forms, from written texts to forms of architecture, and painting. Perhaps the oldest form is the oral tradition-passing on wisdom, knowledge, and culture through the spoken word.

The oldest stories told are myths, legends, and folktales. Every culture has their own set of tales passing them on from generation to generation by word of mouth. The purpose of these stories were varied and complex, and included stories concerning the creation of the earth and the cosmos, the creation of humans, their trials and death, moral lessons, religion, and tales purely told for entertainment. (Click here for more information on Myths and Folktales)

Today, when storytelling is mentioned, what people generally are referring to is the oral tradition. Most cultures have a rich oral tradition, although often times the oral history of a culture has been transformed into written texts or has died with a groups elders. One primary purpose for oral traditions is to preserve memory, helping those of subsequent generations to understand from where they come and what they can accomplish.