The First Writing: Script Invention as History and Process | 
 enlarge | Creator: Stephen D. Houston
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Category: Book
List Price: $32.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  1 reviews
Sales Rank: 777634
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 414
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 9.8 x 6.8 x 1.1
ISBN: 0521728266
Dewey Decimal Number: 411.09
EAN: 9780521728263
ASIN: 0521728266
Publication Date: March 24, 2008
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Product Description
Although ancient writing offers our first glimpse of history, people and institutions, its origins remain mysterious. This book presents the most up-to-date analysis of the origins of ancient writing. Studying often neglected writing systems, such as those of Mesoamerica, leading scholars collectively discuss how these scripts came into existence and developed during their first centuries of use. Egypt, Mesopotamia, Elamite, Mesoamerica and the Maya, Shang and Runic are represented.
Book Description
Ancient writing gives us our first glimpse of history, people and institutions, and yet its origins remain mysterious. The First Writing offers the most up-to-date treatment and examination of the origins of ancient writing. It studies often neglected writing systems, such as those of Mesoamerica. The leading scholars in the field collectively discuss new topics, and highlight new subtleties about how these scripts came into existence and developed during their first centuries of use. Egypt, Mesopotamia, Elamite, Mesoamerica and the Maya, Shang and Runic are all represented.
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| Customer Reviews:
nice survey across the world April 4, 2005
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Writing is one of the key things that distinguishes humans from other animals. An attribute of civilisation that was independently invented by several peoples throughout the world. So here Houston gives us an overview of the current best understanding of these early efforts.
Of these, perhaps the best known are those of the Middle East - Egypt and Mesopotamia. But there has also been important advances in recent decades in our understanding of MesoAmerican scripts, which is well explained here.
The reader should be cautioned that there is a well nigh inevitable frustration with this subject. A lot of our current lack of knowledge of these early writings may always remain unresolved. And some of our understandings are understood to be best effort speculation.
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