advertising?

Is it ok if I use "advertising" here?

"The merchants of ancient Egypt hired criers to walk through the streets shouting or singing about the things they had to sell. That was the advertisement/advertising of the old times. "

Thanks.

Hi,

Yes, you could say 'advertising method', but just 'advertising' would also be OK.

The phrase 'of the old times' is not very natural. More idiomatic phrases would include -

in olden times / in the old days / long ago / in the early days

Best wishes, Clive