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Trace the development of written language and recordkeeping from "summary" of The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome by Susan Wise Bauer

Written language and recordkeeping are essential components of the development of human civilization. The ability to communicate through written symbols allowed ancient societies to preserve knowledge, history, and culture for future generations. In 'The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome', Susan Wise Bauer explores the evolution of written language and recordkeeping from its earliest origins to the fall of the Roman Empire. The earliest forms of written language can be traced back to ancient Mesopotamia, where the Sumerians developed a system of writing known as cuneiform around 3200 BCE. Cuneiform consisted of wedge-shaped symbols impressed onto clay tablets, which were used for recordkeeping, administrative purposes, and literature. This invention marked a significant advancement in human communication and paved the way for the development of more sophisticated writing systems in the ancient world. In Egypt, hieroglyphics emerged around the same time as cuneiform in Mesopotamia. Hieroglyphics were a complex system of pictorial symbols that represented sounds, words, and concepts. The Egyptians used hieroglyphics for religious texts, historical inscriptions, and monumental carvings. The decipherment of hieroglyphics in the 19th century provided valuable insights into ancient Egyptian civilization and culture. The Phoenicians, a seafaring people from the eastern Mediterranean, developed the first alphabet around 1050 BCE. The Phoenician alphabet consisted of 22 consonantal characters, which could be combined to represent spoken language. This innovation revolutionized writing by making it more accessible and adaptable to different languages and cultures. The Phoenician alphabet served as the basis for many modern alphabets, including Greek, Latin, and Cyrillic. The Greeks further refined the Phoenician alphabet by adding vowels, creating the first true alphabet in the Western world. The Greek alphabet was used for literary and philosophical works, historical chronicles, and scientific treatises. Greek scholars like Homer, Herodotus, and Euclid made significant contributions to the written record of ancient history and knowledge. The Romans adopted and adapted the Greek alphabet, using it to write legal codes, historical accounts, and administrative documents. Latin became the lingua franca of the Roman Empire, spreading written communication throughout Europe and beyond. Roman writers such as Virgil, Livy, and Tacitus preserved the history and culture of the ancient world in their works, shaping the intellectual legacy of Western civilization. The development of written language and

The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome

Susan Wise Bauer

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