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History of Writing Lecture

Introductory Lectures: History of Writing

This lecture traces the development of writing, from its origins in the 4th century BC, in Sumeria, though Crete and Egypt, and then at how it evolved in other parts of the world. The lecturer looks at how writing can be defined, and shows how it first developed in response to an economic need for accountancy. She looks at the different ways in which symbols are represented in varied scripts, and finally shows how writing is related to both political and economic power.

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