Writing and alphabets

First writing

3400 BCE

The first people writing were the Eyptians and they invented the hierogyphs

Phoenician alphabet

1200 BCE

The Phoenicians developed a writing system that would be the basis of most modern alphabets. The Phoenician alphabet consisted of 22 symbols that represented specific sounds. This writing system was primarily used to keep business records.

Greek alphabet

700 BCE

The Greeks adopted the Phoenician alphabet and adapted it for their own language. It included 24 letters. The Greek alphabet was used to write literary, historical and philosophical texts, and became the basis for many other European alphabets.

Latin alphabet

400 BCE

The Latin alphabet, which is used in most European languages, was developed from the Greek alphabet. The Romans adopted the Greek alphabet and adapted it for their own language. The Latin alphabet includes 26 letters and is used to write literary, historical, scientific and technical texts.

The printing press

1440

During the Middle Ages, handwriting became a common task. The monks copied religious and literary texts by hand to maintain the knowledge and culture of the time. With the invention of the printing press, mass writing became a reality. The printing press allowed for the production of books on a large scale and at more affordable prices, allowing the spread of knowledge and culture across Europe.

impact of technology on writing

1900

Technology had a great impact on writing. The invention of the typewriter in the 19th century allowed people to write more quickly and efficiently. The invention of the personal computer in the 1970s allowed for faster and easier text creation and editing. And with the invention of the Internet, writing has become even more important as we can now communicate with people all over the world instantly.