Writing is the physical manifestation of a spoken language. It is thought that human beings developed language c. 35,000 BCE as evidenced by cave paintings from the period of the Cro-Magnon Man (c. 50,000-30,000 BCE) which appear to express concepts concerning daily life. These images suggest a language because, in some instances, they seem to tell a story (say, of a hunting expedition in which specific events occurred) rather than being simply pictures of animals and people.
More about: WritingDefinition
Timeline
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c. 3200 BCEFirst instance of written language in Sumerian.
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c. 2500 BCEBeginning of literature in Sumerian.
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2285 BCE - 2250 BCELife of Enheduanna, daughter of Sargon of Akkad, and world's first author known by name.
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c. 2150 BCE - c. 1400 BCEThe tales of Gilgamesh written which inform The Epic of Gilgamesh
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c. 2000 BCE - c. 1650 BCECretan Hieroglyphic script is in use.
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c. 1900 BCE - c. 1600 BCEComposition of The Descent of Inanna.
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c. 1850 BCE - c. 1450 BCEThe Linear A script of the Minoan civilization is in use.
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c. 1640 BCE - c. 1700 BCEWritten form of the Atrahasis Myth of the Great Flood.
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1600 BCE - 1046 BCEWriting develops in China during the Shang Dynasty.
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c. 1600 BCE - 1000 BCEJiaguwen Script develops in China.
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c. 1600 BCECanaanite alphabet.
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c. 1500 BCE - c. 500 BCEThe Vedic Period in India after a greater migration of the Indo-Aryans from Central Asia
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c. 1500 BCE - 1100 BCEThe Rig Veda written, mentioning the god Rudra (Shiva) and goddess Tara (among others) for the first time.
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c. 1500 BCE - c. 1200 BCEThe Linear B script of the Mycenaean civilization is in use.
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c. 1400 BCEUgaritic alphabet of 30 letters is invented.
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1100 BCEPhoenician alphabet.
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c. 1000 BCE - 700 BCEDazhuan Script develops in China.
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c. 1000 BCEDeath of Ahiram (or Ahirom) of Byblos, whose sarcophagus bears the oldest inscription of the Phoenician alphabet.
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800 BCEEarliest examples of Greek alphabetic script.
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c. 700 BCEXiaozhuan Script develops in China.
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c. 647 BCE - c. 629 BCEExtensive collection of clay tablets acquired known as Ashurbanipal's Library at Nineveh.
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c. 500 BCELishu "Clerky Script" develops in China.
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196 BCEThe 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.
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23 CE - Aug 79 CELife of Pliny the Elder.
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c. 350 CE - c. 950 CEEstimated use of the Ogham in Ireland and southwestern England.
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626 CE - 649 CEWoodblock printing process develops under reign of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty.
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1234 CEMovable metal type printing is invented in Goryeo, Korea.
