Ancient Writing: From Cuneiform to the Alphabet Course/Class March 2, 2012

The ancient people of the Near East developed the first writing systems mainly for accounting purposes. Over time the Sumerians developed the cuneiform system of wiring on wet clay, and the Egyptians created the hieroglyphic system for writing designed for writing religious texts on stelae and temple walls. The Minoans and Mycenaeans wrote their languages using a pictographic system. In the 1st Millennium BC the Phoenician consonantal alphabet developed, quickly making writing and reading more accessible. Our alphabet, which includes vowels, is derived from Greek and Latin modifications to this early system. Details of this event may be subject to change. Please visit http://www.cce.usyd.edu.au/course/awca for more information or to register.

Official Website: http://www.cce.usyd.edu.au/course/awca