Writing is the defining marker of civilization, without which there
could be no records, no history, no books, no accumulation of knowledge.
But when did this essential part of our lives begin? Why do we all write
differently and how did writing evolve into what we use today? All of
these questions are answered in this Very Short Introduction. Andrew
Robinson tells the fascinating story of the history of writing, shedding
light on its development and examining the enormous variety of writing
and scripts we use today. Starting with the origins of writing five
thousand years ago, with cuneiform and Egyptian hieroglyphs, Robinson
explains how these early forms developed into hundreds of scripts,
including the Roman alphabet and Chinese characters. He reveals how the
modern writing symbols and abbreviations we take for granted
today--including airport signage and text messaging--resemble ancient
ones much more closely than we might think. The book also includes a
chronology of events
from 3300 BC to AD 2000, a list of titles for further reading, and an
index.
About the Series: Combining authority with wit, accessibility, and
style, Very Short Introductions offer an introduction to some of
life's most interesting topics. Written by experts for the newcomer,
they demonstrate the finest contemporary thinking about the central
problems and issues in hundreds of key topics, from philosophy to Freud,
quantum theory to Islam.
