History of writing

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Writing emerged as a pivotal milestone in human history, making the transition from the societies of the past to the past. prehistory^[1] for the civilisation^[2] recorded. Originating in the Bronze Age around 3500 BC, the first writing systems developed independently in Mesopotamia, Egypt, China and the Americas. Initially characterised by proto-writing using ideograms and mnemonic devices, these systems evolved from communication^[3] symbolism going back 30,000 years. The Sumerian cuneiform script in Mesopotamia represented a significant advance, with the oldest known writing potentially traced back to the tablets of Tărtăria in Romania around 5500 BC. Different civilisations developed writing systems with unique characteristics, although some shared conceptual similarities that suggest a potential exchange of knowledge. The transition from proto-writing to structured linguistic representation marked a critical advance in human communication, allowing for the preservation of complex information, cultural transmission and social organisation across diverse geographical regions.

Terms definitions

1. ↑ Prehistory ( prehistory ) The evolution of human prehistory spans millions of years, beginning with primitive hominid species such as Homo habilis and Homo erectus in Africa around 2.5 million years ago. Modern humans emerged approximately 160,000 years ago in Ethiopia, subsequently migrating out of Africa around 50,000 years ago and populating continents. Key developments include the emergence of the use of stone tools, advanced language skills and artistic expression. Around 10,000 BC, humans transitioned from hunter-gatherer societies to agricultural communities, first in the Fertile Crescent, domesticating animals and cultivating crops. Metallurgy emerged around 6,000 BC in Anatolia and Mesopotamia, gradually spreading to Europe and Asia. Archaeological evidence, including cave paintings and artefact finds, provides insights into prehistoric human societies, demonstrating complex social structures, technological innovations and symbolic thought during the Mesolithic period.

2. ↑ civilisation. The concept of civilisation encompasses complex socio-cultural transformations driven by technological revolutions, representing dynamic changes in human social organisation. Civilisations are characterised by unique cultural identities, encompassing distinct ideas, customs, arts and manufacturing practices that tend to spread and influence other cultural spheres. Scholars such as Samuel Huntington and Darcy Ribeiro have proposed different frameworks for understanding civilisational development, identifying multiple cultural zones and historical trajectories. These perspectives explore how societies evolve through technological, social and cultural changes, highlighting the non-linear nature of human progression. The study of civilisations involves analysing processes of cultural hegemony, social self-regulation and potential conflicts arising from ideological and cultural differences. The concept goes beyond mere social structures, representing broader cultural identity and encompassing intricate patterns of human interaction and transformation.

History of writing (Wikipedia)

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A history of writing describes the formation and evolution of various writing systems that arise in the Bronze Age from the proto-writing at the end of the Neolithic. The emergence of writing is an important milestone in world history for demarcating the separation between history and prehistory starting to record the events.

The proto-writing that emerges at the end of the Neolithic period cannot yet be considered a form of writing because it has no linguistic meaning, but it forms the necessary basis for the later creation of writing. During this period, man made use of ideograms, mnemonics or other forms capable of evoking some kind of information. This category includes Quipu of Incas and the runes Slavic.

Writing emerged as a necessity for the development of economy and society that were taking place mainly in the Middle East. The first form of writing recorded in this locality is the cuneiform which evolved from labour time records. Around the year 3500 BC in the Mesopotamia the Sumerians developed a syllabic script to represent the spoken Sumerian language, a method also adopted by the Akkadians and that leads to the creation of alphabets.

The same period saw the emergence of hieroglyphic writing in Ancient Egypt with some relation to Mesopotamian writing. A Chinese writing and the one adopted by civilisations pre-Columbian in the Americasuch as Mayan writinghad independent origins. A Japanese writing was created from Chinese writing around the year 4th century.