Performance Task 1.
Direction: Read the text below and complete the topic outline that follows.
Origins of Writing
Ancient civilizations attributed the origins of writing to the gods. For the ancient
Egyptians, their god Thoth was the creator of writing and, in some stories, also the
creator of speech. The ancient Sumertans and Assyrians also believed that writing
originated with certain gods, as did the ancient Maya. In Chinese mythology, the
creation of writing is attributed to an ancient sage and was used for communication with
the gods. Clearly, writing was highly valued even by ancient peoples. Humans began
painting pictures on cave walls 25,000 years ago or more, but writing systems did not
develop until groups of people began settling in farming communities. Scholars say that
writing systems developed independently in at least three different parts of the world:
Mesopotamia, China, and Mesoarnertca.
The oldest known writing system developed among the ancient Sumertans in
Mesopotamia around 3000 B.C. Along with the rise of agricultural societies carne the
development of property ownership and the need to keep records of it. In early
agricultural societies, property consisted largely of land, livestock such as cattle, and
grain. Originally, clay tokens of various shapes were used to count these possessions.
From this developed a system of impressing the shapes onto clay tablets. One of the
earliest clay tablets of this type was found in excavations in Mesopotamia and dates
from the time of the Sumertan culture. Scribes then began using reeds instead of tokens
to mark the clay, developing a system of wedgelike shapes to represent the tokens.
This system of writing using wedge shapes is known as cuneiform. It was later adopted
by other cultures and became the basis for other writing systems. Originating in a
system that used pictures to represent objects, cuneiform writing eventually developed
into systems that used symbols to represent the sounds of language.
The oldest form of Chinese writing dates from around 1500 B.c. It is called oracle bone
script because it was carved on animal bones and shells that were used for predicting
the future. At a later period, Chinese writing appeared on bronze vases and later still
developed into a system that was used to record government affairs. The Chinese
writing system was also the original basis for both the Japanese and Korean writing
systems.
In Mesoarnertca, a region that encompasses parts of Mexico and Central Arnertca, it is
the ancient Mayans who are famous for the writing they inscribed on temple walls and
other religious structures. However, scholars believe that writing in that part of the world
may have begun before the rise of the Mayan civilization. The Zapotec culture, centered
on Oaxaca, Mexico, was already using writing around 400 B.C., or possibly earlier. The
Olmec culture may have developed a writing system even earlier than that. Recent
discoveries show that the Mayans may have begun writing around 2,300 years ago.
They used a system of symbols that represented words and syllables to record
information about the deeds of their rulers as well as information connected to their
calendar and astronomy. Their system of writing survived until the time of the Spanish
Conquest in the 1500s.
In ancient times, only specialized people such as scholars, priests, or government
officials used writing. Today, close to three-quarters of the world's adult population can
read and write, and literacy is considered a basic skill necessary to function in the
modern world.
Origins of Writing
Thesis Statement: The origin of writing systems can be attributed to ancient
civilizations of Mesopotamia, China, and Mesoamerica.
I. Ancient Sumerian in Mesopotamia
A. Recording of property ownership
1. Clay tokens
2. _______________________________
3. _______________________________
4. _______________________________
II. Oldest form of Chinese writing
A. _______________________________________
1. Used for predicting the future
B. _______________________________________
1. Basis for Japanese and Korean writing systems
III. Writing systems in Mesoamerica
A. _______________________________________
1. Temple walls and religious structure inscriptions
2. Used a system of symbols
B. Zapotec Culture
1. Writing around 400 B.C.
C. ______________________________________
1. Developed earlier a writing system
