1. Evolution of Writing

2. As you recall… When Mesopotamians started settling down onto farms surrounding the first cities, life became a bit more complicated. Agriculture required expertise and detailed recordkeeping, two elements that led directly to the invention of writing.
Heather Whipps
How Writing Changed the World

3. Pictographs
An early form of written language that conveys meaning through representing something in the physical world - essentially, a picture! Image = single word Originally, there were over 1,500 symbols!!

6. Cuneiform
1st Writing System Wedge-shaped markings Used stylus & clay tablet Reduced symbols to 600!!

7. Cuneiform (2:10)

8. The Phoenicians Phoenicia was a city-state on the Mediterranean Sea
They used the sea to trade many goods.
Became the first trading empire from B.C.
Phoenicia would later become the city-state of Carthage!

10. Valuable Merchandise
Special snails would wash on shore and be collected.
They produced a rich purple dye that wealthy people loved to buy.

11. Because they had so much trade, the Phoenicians needed to simplify writing (cuneiform was too hard!).
The Phoenicians found a better way to write to keep up with all the trade & business dealings!

12. Phoenician Alphabet 22 symbols
Simplified characters that represent sound.
One for each consonant.
Became the first alphabet!
Easier to learn so ALL people could learn to write!

13. Phoenician Video (3:46)

14. How did the transition from pictographs to an alphabet impact the lives of Mesopotamians? The U.S.?

15. The Phoenicians developed a more simplified writing system
The Phoenicians developed a more simplified writing system. This became the basis for our alphabet today!

16. Expertise detailed record keeping
Phoenicia
Trading empire
Purple dye
simply
Image = single word
1500 symbols
1st writing system
Wedge shaped
Stylus & clay tablet
600 symbols
22 symbols
Represented sound
First Alphabet
All people could learn to write!