The Origins of Reading
Reading started in 3,000 BCE in a place called ancient Sumerians in Mesopotamia.
They developed a system of symbols known as cuneiform, one of the earliest forms of writing.
- Cuneiform: The Dawn of Literacy
- The Sumerians began by using pictographs, simple drawings that represented different objects.
- Over time, these pictographs evolved into more abstract symbols, creating the cuneiform script.
- Around 5200 years ago, people invented reading. People started writing simple words in stone ages ago and now we use more advanced systems.
The Evolution of Reading Practices
As humans migrated and civilizations grew, so did our methods of communication. Here’s a quick timeline:
- 1200 bc: The Phoenicians created an alphabet with 22 characters.
- 800 bc: The Greeks added vowels to the Phoenician alphabet.
- 105 ad: The Chinese invented paper.
- 1455 ad: Gutenberg invents the printing press.
Each of these milestones played a significant role in the evolution of reading.
People invented letters, paper, and a machine to make it easier to write things down and make them available to more people.
Mesopotamia and Egypt: The Beginnings
The origin of reading can be found at the origin of writing, around 3,500 BC.
Writing arose in the first great civilization of humanity: Mesopotamia! The people who wrote in olden times used a tool called cuneiform to write symbols and words on clay tablets. This method of writing is called cuneiform script, which can be traced back to southern Mesopotamia circa 3,000 BCE. Because? It was simple because it was done with a wedge-shaped instrument. In 1,750 BC, King Hammurabi made a law code that told people what to do and how to rule themselves. A town realized the importance of reading for the first time. Their society would have been in trouble without it.
In Africa, a second civilization is growing in the Nile River. It is called Egypt. They used a common leaf in the river to make writing material. This material was called papyrus. On it, people wrote things that can be understood by looking at them. Egyptians used to wrap papyrus scrolls to keep the messages inside. That’s why a collection of stories in a single book is called a “volume.”
Greece, Rome, and Mesoamerica: New alphabets
Greece is the most exciting and interesting civilization. They made a lot of things like beliefs, democracy, astronomy, math, and writing, and we use them today.
The Greeks were very careful about keeping old books and writings that tell important facts, ideas, and history. Education was invented! Children, you can thank him (he said sarcastically) for asking you to bring books to school. The Greeks were also pioneers in the so-called epic poetry. Who still needs to read the Iliad or the Odyssey at school? In Greek reading, which is a fun activity that helps you learn and makes you excited, is called Greek reading. I repeat: Thanks to the Greeks!!!
The Roman civilization copied many aspects of the Greek, including advances in writing. The Romans were the first to use the period at the end to separate sentences and paragraphs. This had two purposes: to emphasize the letters clearly and to indicate where a part of the text ended. People who try to take credit for an invention by making false claims are called fake-makers.
The Catholic Church made a big difference in the kinds of books people read. It became a very popular religion, and people started to read more because of it.
During this time, most of the books in the library were about religion and faith. These rules lasted for a long time. It was scandalous! But don’t think only the Old World stood out; the New World was also flourishing and producing its works. In the 14th century, a book called the Jikji was printed in Korea using movable (metal) type. It is a collection of Buddhist Zen teachings. A man named Johannes Gutenberg made a machine that allowed people to print things many years later. This led to more machines being built in different countries.
The Olmec people in Mexico used complicated language and writing on stone plant fibers to talk to each other. Their writing system used pictures and sounds to say things. That is funny to us now.
The Mayans were the main stars in this region. They built pyramids, knew how to see in the night, and made the idea of zero into a thing.
The Mayans were famous for writing myths. The rulers, priests, and shamans told these stories.
Most of the stories, poems, and songs we know today were not written down and put in books. They were only told from person to person. The Mayans made it so that you can now tell your grandma old stories about how things were different in the past. The Mayan civilization had its own time when it ended. But its effects on later generations are still important.
The Middle Ages and the Printing Press: From the Old to the New
During medieval times, reading took on a more reflective meaning. The Catholic Church did not like some books and writers, so a special kind of book came out. Reading started when people needed to use it only for special reasons. Now, people use it to learn new things.
example of treasured works chained to their shelves “Libri catenati in libraria”.
It has 229 manuscripts, the oldest from the 8th century AD.
It involves understanding and breaking down a text to understand what it says. One great way to do this is by finding solitude in your private library while sitting near a cozy fireplace. During the High Middle Ages, the most common habits and forms of reading in the current era were adopted. People can read both alphabet and non-alphabet writing by having good oral language, hearing sounds, and having a high IQ.
In the fifteenth century, a new invention arose. The toilet paper? Try again. The electric light? Cold. The steam? Hotter. Print? Ding!
That’s right. Johannes Gutenberg was an important person who invented the printing press. He helped people to get more books from ancient times. These books came to Italy after the fall of the Roman Empire, bringing forth the Renaissance.
The invention of the printing press in the 15th century made it easier for people to learn to read and write. In the 16th century, movable type was invented and became widely used by printers. The first book printed with movable type was a Latin Bible that was published in Germany in 1454. This method of printing made it possible to make many books in large numbers. This helped spread knowledge in other countries like France and England as well.
By the year 1500, there were more than 20 million books in the world for people to read. In the 1700s, 40% of the books in the world were being made in just one country: England. Other countries had even higher percentages.
From Clay Tablets to the Printing Press
Reading has come a long way, from clay tablets to the printing press and now to tablets and e-readers. The first known form of writing was 3,000 years ago in a place called Sumeria. People used a stick and a piece of clay to write. People can read more now than in old times because of the invention of paper and the printing press. Now, people can carry books on tablets and e-readers and read them whenever they want. Reading is important in history and continues to change with new technology.
Vocabulary
Reading is a complicated and evolving process that cannot be done by one person or in one moment in history. Reading helped people talk better and know more words. Reading helps us learn a lot of information and understand the world. Reading can help you learn new words and understand better, and this will help you grow in your job. This can make you happier and help you in all areas of your life.
When did humans first start reading?
People used a special writing system called cuneiform to read 3,200 BC. This started a new way of writing and understanding words that many people use now.
Who invented reading and when?
Reading was not invented by a single person at a specific time. It took a long time to develop into the way we use written words and codes to say things today. The earliest known form of writing dates back to around 3500 BCE in ancient Mesopotamia.
What was the first written language that people read?
People started reading 3200 years ago in a language called Sumerian. Cuneiform tablets from long ago were used for communicating. They were read by many people.
