The Political Force
Interposed with tales covering themes from political conspiracies to quests for buried treasures, this period didn't see much innovation, but it was no rocket science to judge the clear winner of the 'quality vs. quantity' struggle. The ciphers created during this time frame, which roughly dated from 1500s to the 1800s, still remain vital artifacts and knowledge of their cryptanalysis is required of every cryptographer in the modern world. Cryptomachines in the world of today, probably wouldn't have reached the heights they have, had it not been for the firm foundation provided by these ciphers.
In this section, we explore the history and working of the three pivotal ciphers which left their impressions in the sands of time – The Polyalphabetic Cipher, the Beale Cipher and the Vignere Cipher. We also take a look into the lives of Elizabeth, Queen of England and Mary, Queen of Scots and how the Babington plot tore the lives of two cousins apart. And finally we salute to the people who were responsible for making innovation possible at a time when facilities were scarce.