1. Why did writing benefit civilization?
SSWH1d: Identifying early trading networks and writing systems existent in the Eastern Mediterranean including those of the Phoenicians
SSWH1e: Explain the development and importance of writing including cuneiform, hieroglyphics, and the Phoenician alphabet

2. Why did writing develop?
Keep and pass on information
The need to keep records on trade and commerce!

3. What are some early forms of writing?
1. Sumerian writing (Cuneiform): pressing marks on clay tablets with a stylus
Most signs were wedge shapes
Pictographic writing: 600 signs

4. What are some early forms of writing?
2. Egyptian writing: (hieroglyphics): used more than 600 signs, pictures or symbols to represent words and sounds (ideograms)
Used papyrus (paper made from stem of
papyrus plant grown by the Nile River)

5. Rosetta Stone
In 1798 the Rosetta Stone was found and contained three languages; Greek, hieroglyphics and demotic. This led to the understanding of the Egyptian sacred writings.

6. What are some early forms of writing?
Phoenician alphabet: used symbols to represent sounds
Phonetic: one sign for one sound
Developed the alphabet that became the model for later Western alphabets

8. How did the Phoenician alphabet spread and why is it more accepted?
Used writing in their businesses to draw up contracts and record bills -> trading partners saw these and their advantages and spread the knowledge of them throughout the Mediterranean world
Greeks later adopt the Phoenician alphabet by adding signs for vowel sounds
Romans copy the alphabet from the Greeks and turned it into our alphabet we use now!