Writing: The Preservation of Human Thought and Action

Q: When was writing invented?

Writing was invented in Sumer, Mesopotamia, in circa 3600/3500 BCE.

Q: Who invented writing and where?

Writing was invented by the Sumerians in the city of Uruk circa 3600/3500 BCE and the refined further in circa 3200 BCE in that same city.

Q: What were the first written works in Mesopotamia?

The first written works in Mesopotamia were receipts for the transfer of goods, notably of beer, which was a dietary staple of the Mesopotamians.

Q: What is the oldest work of literature in the world?

The Epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest work of literature in the world, dated to c. 2100.

Joshua J. Mark

Definition

Writing is the physical manifestation of a spoken language. It is thought that human beings developed language circa 35,000 BCE as evidenced by cave paintings from the period of the Cro-Magnon Man (circa 50,000-30,000 BCE) which appear to express concepts concerning daily life.

More about: Writing

Timeline

c. 3600 BCE - 3500 BCE
First instance of written language in Sumerian.
c. 2600 BCE
Beginning of literature in Sumerian.
c. 2300 BCE
Life of Enheduanna, daughter of Sargon of Akkad, and world's first author known by name.
c. 2100 BCE - c. 1400 BCE
The tales of Gilgamesh written which inform the Epic of Gilgamesh.
c. 2000 BCE - c. 1650 BCE
Cretan Hieroglyphic script is in use.
c. 1900 BCE - c. 1600 BCE
Composition of The Descent of Inanna.
c. 1850 BCE - c. 1450 BCE
The Linear A script of the Minoan civilization is in use.
c. 1640 BCE - c. 1700 BCE
Written form of the Atrahasis myth of the Great Flood.
1600 BCE - 1046 BCE
Writing develops in China during the Shang Dynasty.
c. 1600 BCE - 1000 BCE
Jiaguwen Script develops in China.
c. 1600 BCE
Canaanite alphabet.
c. 1500 BCE - c. 500 BCE
The Vedic Period in India after a greater migration of the Indo-Aryans from Central Asia
c. 1500 BCE - 1100 BCE
The Rig Veda written, mentioning the god Rudra (Shiva) and goddess Tara (among others) for the first time.
c. 1500 BCE - c. 1200 BCE
The Linear B script of the Mycenaean civilization is in use.
c. 1400 BCE
Ugaritic alphabet of 30 letters is invented.
1100 BCE
Phoenician alphabet.
c. 1000 BCE - 700 BCE
Dazhuan Script develops in China.
c. 1000 BCE
Death of Ahiram (or Ahirom) of Byblos, whose sarcophagus bears the oldest inscription of the Phoenician alphabet.
800 BCE
Earliest examples of Greek alphabetic script.
c. 700 BCE
Xiaozhuan Script develops in China.
c. 647 BCE - c. 629 BCE
Extensive collection of clay tablets acquired known as the Library of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh.
c. 500 BCE
Lishu "Clerky Script" develops in China.
196 BCE
The Rosetta Stone was made, a stela carrying a priestly decree from the reign of Ptolemy V in three languages: Egyptian hieroglyphs, demotic and Greek script.
23 CE - Aug 79 CE
Life of Pliny the Elder.
c. 350 CE - c. 950 CE
Estimated use of the Ogham in Ireland and southwestern England.
626 CE - 649 CE
Woodblock printing process develops under reign of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty.
1234 CE
Movable metal type printing is invented in Goryeo, Korea.