The art of spying is almost as old as the practice of warfare itself. The obtaining of information has always been a critical factor in being able to gain victory over one’s enemies. More information meant better chances of defeating the enemy, and so leaders have employed spies for ages. Sometimes these individuals were trained specifically for their tasks, while at other times they were lured from the enemy with promises of power and wealth, or with threats. The first evidence of espionage being used comes from around 6000 years ago, when Egyptians used internal security forces to ensure that their subjects - particularly those in powerful positions - remained loyal. Later they would use similar methods to seek out weaknesses in their enemies. Even the Bible has its tales of spies being employed to gather intelligence, such as before the legendary battle of Jericho.
