Chapter One: The Invention of Writing

Summary: Chapter one was definitely interesting to read because I learned about some of the first ways people began to communicate. Writing first began in caves as geometric signs and figures were carved on rock. As time progressed, these representations evolved as people simplified them. The simplified symbols began to look like letters. In Mesopotamia, it soon became important for there to be an ordered society. The people realized how convenient writing would be for them. Historic information could be held on to because of writing. Records could be kept, food could be labeled, and crops could be looked after. This was when numbers came into play. Along with pictures, there soon became numbers. Writing continually changed in order to conveniently help the people who needed to successfully communicate with each other. Sharpened utensils were used to carve into clay, which would then bake in the sun or in a kiln to become hard. But soon afterwards, utensils with wedge shapes were being used to make imprints. The people found this method to be a lot easier because writing could be done faster and the symbols were simpler. This type of writing was called cuneiform. After the fall of Mesopotamia, Egyptians used a sacred type of writing called hieroglyphics. This writing was used on temples and tombs, both inside and out. Hieroglyphics was valuable because it was magical and religious. People who were able to read and write gained authority and were treated with great respect. Knowledge = power. Interestingly, the end of the chapter mentioned that the alphabet was generated because of the Egyptian culture.

Something I found interesting: I found the entire section on Egyptian writing to be interesting because I have always been fascinated with Egypt. I had no idea how papyrus was made so I thought that was an interesting aspect of their culture.

My thoughts and questions: After reading on the section where Mesopotamia and Babylonia fell to the Persians, I wondered if writing would have been much different than it is now. Also, why couldn’t anyone learn how to read and write? Because of power?