The discovery of writing can be traced back to the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China, where early forms of writing were developed independently
Shoukat Lohar
Writing is an essential part of our lives, enabling us to communicate ideas, record history, and express ourselves in creative ways. The history of writing is a fascinating journey that began over 5,000 years ago, with the development of some of the earliest forms of writing in ancient civilizations. In this article, we will explore the origins of writing, the oldest languages used, the invention of books, the concept of schooling, reading books, libraries, and how human beings initially wrote.
Discovery of Writing
The discovery of writing can be traced back to the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China, where early forms of writing were developed independently. The earliest known form of writing was developed by the Sumerians in Mesopotamia around 3400 BCE. This writing system was called cuneiform and used a stylus to make wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets. It was used primarily for record-keeping and administrative purposes.
In Egypt, hieroglyphics were developed around 3200 BCE. Hieroglyphics were a complex system of writing that used pictures and symbols to represent words and ideas. The Egyptians used hieroglyphics for religious texts and inscriptions on tombs and monuments.
In China, the earliest known form of writing was oracle bone script, which was used for divination purposes during the Shang Dynasty (1600 BCE-1046 BCE). Oracle bone script was inscribed on turtle shells and animal bones and used pictographs to represent words and ideas.
Oldest Languages Used
The oldest languages used in the history of writing are Sumerian, Egyptian hieroglyphics, and Chinese oracle bone script. These languages developed independently and were used primarily for record-keeping and administrative purposes in their respective civilizations.
Sumerian is considered the oldest language used in the history of writing. It was developed in Mesopotamia around 3400 BCE and was used for record-keeping, administrative purposes, and literature. The Sumerian language was written in cuneiform, which used a stylus to make wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets.
Egyptian hieroglyphics were developed around 3200 BCE and were used primarily for religious texts and inscriptions on tombs and monuments. Hieroglyphics used pictures and symbols to represent words and ideas.
Chinese oracle bone script was used during the Shang Dynasty (1600 BCE-1046 BCE) and was inscribed on turtle shells and animal bones. It used pictographs to represent words and ideas and was used for divination purposes.
Invention of Books
The invention of books is a significant milestone in the history of writing. The first books were invented in ancient Egypt around 2400 BCE. These books, called codices, were made from papyrus and consisted of scrolls of paper glued together.
The codices were used for religious texts and other important documents.
In China, the first books were invented during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE). These books were made from bamboo and silk and were used for literature, history, and other important documents.
The concept of schooling and reading books
The concept of schooling and reading books dates back to ancient Greece. The Greeks believed that education was essential for the development of a civilized society and established schools to teach subjects such as reading, writing, and mathematics.
In ancient Rome, education was reserved for the wealthy and privileged classes. However, during the Middle-Ages, there was a paradigm shift when the middle class grew.
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Shoukat Lohar is Assistant professor in English at Mehran University of Engineering and Technology Jamshoro. He can be reached at Shoukat.ali@faculty.muet.edu.pk
