Origins of Written Language (Language of Coins: 2/16)

The origin of pictographic & ideographic writing systems are imagined in the first part of this story (proto-writing). The rebus principle is introduced, setting the stage for the development of an alphabet. Featuring some key artifacts from France, Spain, Egypt & Ancient Sumer: Cave Drawings, Narmer Palette, Hunters Palette, Cuneiform Accounting Tablets. references (book): - The Alphabetic Labyrinth (Drucker) - Letter Perfect (David Sacks) - Empire and Communications (Innis) - The Science of Language (Chomsky) web: - http://cuneiform.library.cornell.edu/ - http://www.citrinitas.com/history_of_viscom/ Stock footage thanks to: - University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology