The Invention of Writing (Hieroglyph - Cuneiform)The Journey to Civilization - See U in History

See U in History / Mythology
26 Jul 201903:39
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThe script explores the origins of civilization and writing, highlighting Mesopotamia as the cradle of the first major civilizations like Sumer. It discusses the development of autonomous city-states and the emergence of complex administration, leading to the invention of cuneiform and hieroglyphics for record-keeping. The limitations of pictorial writing and its eventual decipherment are noted, followed by the evolution towards phonetic alphabets that simplified communication. The invention of writing is portrayed as a monumental breakthrough, allowing civilizations to preserve their history against the ravages of time.

Takeaways
  • 🏙️ The first civilizations, including the Sumerian, emerged in Mesopotamia over three thousand years before Christ.
  • 🏛️ Sumerian cities were autonomous city-states without a central government.
  • 📈 As Sumerian cities grew, their administration became complex, leading to the development of writing systems.
  • 🖋️ The Sumerians invented cuneiform writing, primarily used for accounting, commercial, and property records.
  • 🍞 Clay tablets were used for writing and had to be baked to preserve information over time.
  • 📜 The Egyptians used hieroglyphics and later transitioned to papyri, a precursor to paper made from the papyrus plant.
  • 🎨 Pictograms, used by both Mesopotamia and Egypt, were limited for complex subjects and were mainly used by scribes and priests.
  • 🔍 The deciphering of Egyptian hieroglyphics happened by chance during the construction of a fort by Napoleon's army.
  • 📚 The Rosetta Stone, featuring a decree of Pharaoh Ptolemy V, was key in deciphering hieroglyphics due to its inscriptions in three languages.
  • 💡 The evolution of writing led to phonetic alphabets, which simplified communication by representing sounds rather than images.
  • 📖 Despite the invention of writing, it remained accessible only to literate elites for centuries.
  • 🌐 The invention of writing was a major breakthrough for humanity, allowing for the recording of existence, deeds, discoveries, culture, and laws against the test of time.
Q & A

  • When did the first civilizations appear after the foundation of the very first cities?

    -The first civilizations appeared more than three thousand years before Christ.

  • Where was Mesopotamia in relation to the birth of the first major civilizations?

    -Mesopotamia was the birthplace of the first major civilizations, including the Sumerian civilization.

  • How were the Sumerian cities governed?

    -The Sumerian cities were autonomous and functioned as city-states without a central government.

  • What led to the emergence of writing in Sumerian and Egyptian civilizations?

    -The emergence of writing was a result of the increasing complexity of city administration as the cities grew in size.

  • What type of writing system did the Sumerians invent?

    -The Sumerians invented cuneiform writing, which was done on clay tablets.

  • What were the primary purposes of cuneiform writing?

    -Cuneiform writing was primarily used for accounting, commercial, and property records essential for city administration.

  • How were clay tablets preserved for long periods of time?

    -Clay tablets were baked in ovens to withstand the test of time.

  • What writing material did the Egyptians later use instead of clay tablets?

    -The Egyptians began to make their records on papyri, which were similar to paper sheets made from the fibers of the papyrus plant.

  • What were the limitations of using pictograms as a form of writing?

    -The limitations of pictograms included their suitability for simple matters only and the enormous number of images required for complex subjects, which restricted pictorial writing to scribes and priests.

  • How was the meaning of Egyptian hieroglyphics eventually deciphered?

    -The deciphering of hieroglyphics happened by pure luck when a granite block with a decree of Pharaoh Ptolemy V was found. The decree was written in hieroglyphs, transcribed into a simplified Egyptian writing form called Demotic, and also into Greek. Using the Greek text, the meaning of the hieroglyphics was discovered.

  • What significant change did the evolution of writing bring about?

    -The evolution of writing led to the creation of phonetic alphabets, where signs were related to a certain unity of sound, making writing much easier and more accessible.

  • How did the invention of writing impact humanity?

    -The invention of writing was one of humanity's major breakthroughs, allowing people to register their existence, record their deeds, discoveries, culture, and laws, and thus preserve their history against the passage of time.

Outlines
00:00
🏺 Birth of Civilizations and Writing Systems

This paragraph discusses the emergence of the first civilizations in Mesopotamia over three thousand years before Christ, highlighting the Sumerians as the creators of the first major civilization. It notes the absence of a central government, with Sumerian cities functioning as autonomous city-states. As these cities grew, their administration became complex, leading to the invention of writing. The Sumerians developed cuneiform writing on clay tablets for record-keeping, while Egyptians used hieroglyphics. The limitations of pictorial writing systems are also mentioned, as well as the eventual development of phonetic alphabets that simplified communication.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia, often referred to as the 'Cradle of Civilization,' was an ancient region in the eastern Mediterranean, which is now modern-day Iraq. It is recognized as the birthplace of the first major civilizations, including the Sumerians. In the video, Mesopotamia is highlighted as the setting where the first cities and complex societies emerged, leading to the development of writing systems and other foundational aspects of civilization.
💡Sumerian civilization
The Sumerian civilization was one of the earliest known civilizations, emerging in the region of Mesopotamia around 4500 BCE. Known for their innovations in agriculture, city planning, and the creation of the cuneiform writing system, the Sumerians laid the groundwork for many aspects of later civilizations. In the video, the Sumerian civilization is presented as a significant milestone in human history, marking the transition from autonomous city-states to more complex administrative structures.
💡Cuneiform writing
Cuneiform is one of the earliest known systems of writing, developed by the Sumerians in Mesopotamia. It consists of wedge-shaped marks made on clay tablets, which were then baked to preserve the text. Cuneiform was primarily used for recording transactions, laws, and administrative matters, and it played a crucial role in the administration of the Sumerian city-states. The video emphasizes the importance of cuneiform in the evolution of writing, as it transitioned from pictorial representations to a more abstract, symbolic system.
💡Hieroglyphics
Hieroglyphics is a form of writing that uses pictorial symbols, known for its use in ancient Egypt. These symbols, or glyphs, represented objects, ideas, or sounds, and were a critical part of the cultural and religious practices of the Egyptians. Unlike cuneiform, which was primarily utilitarian, hieroglyphics were also used for monumental inscriptions and religious texts, reflecting the society's values and beliefs. The video discusses the limitations of hieroglyphics, particularly in conveying complex subjects, and the eventual deciphering of this writing system.
💡Pictograms
Pictograms are a form of writing in which ideas are conveyed through drawings or pictures that represent objects or concepts. They are the earliest form of writing and were used by various ancient civilizations, including the Sumerians and Egyptians. The script highlights the limitations of pictograms, as they were suitable for simple matters but inadequate for complex subjects due to the vast number of images required. This limitation restricted the use of pictograms to scribes and priests, who were the literate elites of their time.
💡Rosetta Stone
The Rosetta Stone is a granodiorite stele inscribed with a decree of Pharaoh Ptolemy V in three scripts: hieroglyphs, Demotic script, and ancient Greek. Discovered by French soldiers during Napoleon Bonaparte's campaign in Egypt, the Rosetta Stone was instrumental in deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics because the same text was written in all three scripts, allowing scholars to translate the previously undecipherable hieroglyphs using the known Greek language. The video credits the Rosetta Stone with the discovery of the meaning behind Egyptian pictograms.
💡Pharaoh Ptolemy V
Pharaoh Ptolemy V was an Egyptian ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty, known for his reign during the Hellenistic period of ancient Egypt. His significance in the video is tied to the Rosetta Stone, which contains a decree issued by him. This decree was written in three scripts, including hieroglyphs, and its discovery was crucial for deciphering the Egyptian writing system.
💡Phonetic alphabets
Phonetic alphabets are writing systems in which symbols represent individual sounds or phonemes of a spoken language. This is a significant advancement over pictorial writing systems like hieroglyphics and cuneiform, as it allows for a more direct representation of speech. Phonetic alphabets simplified writing and made it more accessible, enabling a broader range of people to communicate through written text. The video positions the creation of phonetic alphabets as a major step in the evolution of writing, leading to more efficient communication and record-keeping.
💡Literacy
Literacy refers to the ability to read and write, and it was a privilege limited to elites in ancient societies. The development of writing systems like cuneiform and hieroglyphics was initially accessible only to scribes and priests, who were the literate members of their communities. The video touches on the exclusivity of literacy for centuries, highlighting that despite the invention of writing, it took a long time for it to become widespread among the general population.
💡Papyri
Papyri, or papyrus, is a material made from the pith of the papyrus plant, used in ancient times for writing documents. It is considered a precursor to paper and was commonly used in ancient Egypt for record-keeping and communication. The video mentions the transition from writing on clay tablets to using papyri, which was a more portable and accessible medium for recording information.
💡Cultural preservation
Cultural preservation refers to the process of maintaining and protecting the tangible and intangible aspects of a society's culture, such as its history, language, traditions, and laws. The invention of writing was a monumental breakthrough for cultural preservation, as it allowed societies to record their existence, achievements, and cultural practices, ensuring that they could be passed down through generations. The video underscores the importance of writing in the effort to combat the erasure of history by time.
Highlights

The first cities were established more than three thousand years before Christ.

Mesopotamia was the cradle of the first major civilizations.

Transcripts

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WritingHistoryMesopotamiaSumerianCuneiformEgyptianHieroglyphicsPictogramsPharaohPtolemyLanguageEvolutionCulturalPreservation