Writing Timeline

First instance of written language in Sumerian.

Beginning of literature in Sumerian.

Life of Enheduanna, daughter of Sargon of Akkad, and world's first author known by name.

The Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh written on clay tablets.

Minoan hieroglyphic script is invented.

Composition of The Descent of Inanna.

Minoan Linear A script.

Written form of the Atrahasis Myth of the Great Flood.

Canaanite alphabet.

Writing develops in China during the Shang Dynasty.

Jiaguwen Script develops in China.

The Vedic Period in India after a greater migration of the Indo-Aryans from Central Asia

The Rig Veda written, mentioning the god Rudra (Shiva) for the first time.

Development of the Linear B script.

Ugaritic alphabet of 30 letters is invented.

Phoenician alphabet.

Death of Ahiram (or Ahirom) of Byblos, whose sarcophagus bears the oldest inscription of the Phoenician alphabet.

Dazhuan Script develops in China.

Earliest examples of Greek alphabetic script.

Xiaozhuan Script develops in China.

Extensive collection of clay tablets acquired known as Ashurbanipal's Library at Nineveh.

Lishu "Clerky Script" develops in China.

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.

Life of Pliny the Elder.

Estimated use of the Ogham in Ireland and southwestern England.

Woodblock printing process develops under reign of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty.

Movable metal type printing is invented in Goryeo, Korea.