REflection #6

Angela Gregoire
Reflection #6
EDF 1005


Mankind existed long before the invention of writing, but the invention of writing made it possible to keep and document all historical records. Ancient civilizations became the first established communities that were used to set up states, nations, and empires. People lived peacefully together in small civilizations and it was not difficult to remember important information like names, herds, size of crops, and personal belongings, but as communities expanded there was need to keep records. As time went on man learned to live in permanent communities and agriculture was discovered. This made settlements possible and some cities sprang up. A dependable food source was available and larger populations could be fed. Populations continued to increase and there was need to create different kinds of jobs so as a result more social structures were developed. There was need for more reliable water supplies as farming continued to expand so that’s why some of the great civilizations grew up along rivers. This great thrust of development led the way to the great invention of writing. Man realized the need to keep more records and some form of writing was invented. Civilizations at that used picture writing that is pictures to represent sounds and objects to their readers. The Egyptian hieroglyphics was at the time the best known ancient writing system and most of the earliest work was inscribed on stone. This invention was crucial to all civilization.
Throughout man’s history he has tried to create spoken language into a more visible lasting form but it was not until true writing or phonetic writing records were developed in some civilizations in the world including Sumeria, Egypt, China and Mesoamerica that there was a change in the course of civilization. I am sure that these great innovations helped to create the ability to record information which could be retrieved at a later time. This was indeed a significant achievement but that was just the beginning of things to come. The Sumerians had some of the earliest writings ever discovered and showed aspects of life, such as accosting and tax records. The form of writing evolved and then led to phonetic writing using symbols to represent sounds. It was now possible to represent words with no objects using abstract ideas. Many civilizations developed further in that era. Mexico was one of such civilizations. Based on his needs, man was able to make important inventions and continued to perfect them. This perfection led to organized integration of all civilizations. It is known all over the world that the Sumerians and other Mesopotamians developed literature and writing to assist humanity. The Babylonians were able to document time and were able to create time and seconds and the calendar and later the basis for math and astrology. Many events were recorded, and the invention of writing was so beneficial and important that from its introduction came the establishment of the beginning of history. I am convinced that civilization aided human civilization. Technology influenced the course of civilization, but the Sumerians set the pace for written communication, record keeping and literature. It is true that they developed the first form of writing called cuneiform. The Mesopotamians opened the doors of civilization with the invention of the Gilgamesh, the oldest literary works. Had it not been for them, the Mesopotamians, what would the world be like? These people invested a lot of time and energy in this great civilization we call our own. It is true that that the invention of writing was necessary in order to communicate and document events in history that are so important to our civilization.