Early Civilizations Unit – Mr. Hatch

Egypt and SumerOrigins of the Written Word and the Dawn of

History

What you will learn. . .

• The Origins of written language• Concrete to Abstract

• History of Sumer and Egypt• Early Civilizations Unit

Vocabulary• Deciphering Words

Read paragraph on pg. 13 – Life in a . . . .

Concrete to Abstract Ideas

Construct – something constructed by the mind – constructed meaning

Concrete – naming a real thing or based on an actual things or objects

Abstract – expressing something apart from an object – based on ideas

Literal - true to fact; not exaggerated; actual or factual: the primary or strict meaning of the word or words; not figurative or metaphorical.

More

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Abstract More Concrete and Literal

Chinese Character – “to listen”The Chinese characters that make up the verb “to listen” tell us something significant about the skill – An example of a very concrete form of writing.

EYES

UNDIVIDED ATTENTION

HEART

Cuneiform – Wedge Shaped Writing of Ancient Sumer

cuneus – wedge (made from the edge of a reed “pen”

form - shape

Cuneiform was often carved on clay tablets.

(see page 31 – NEW World History Textbook)

Hieroglyphics – Sacred Carvings

hiero – sacredglyph – carving

Hieroglyphic was a formal writing system used

by the ancient Egyptians that contained a

combination of logographic (ideographic) and

alphabetic elements. Egyptians used cursive

hieroglyphs for religious literature on papyrus

and wood. Less formal variations of the script,

called hieratic and demotic, are technically not

hieroglyphs.

Papyrus

Hieratic – Egyptian Shorthand

HieraticHieratic was first used during the Protodynastic

Period, (3200 – 3000 B.C.) developing

alongside the more formal hieroglyphic script. It is

an error to view hieratic as a derivative of

hieroglyphic writing. The earliest texts from Egypt

are produced with ink and brush, with no indication

their signs are descendants of hieroglyphs. True

monumental hieroglyphs carved in stone did not

appear until the 1st Dynasty, well after hieratic had

been established as a scribal practice.

The two writing systems, therefore, are related,

parallel developments, rather than a single linear

one.

Hieratic was used throughout the pharaonic period

and into the Graeco-Roman period. However, after

about 660 BC, the Demotic script (and later Greek)

replaced hieratic in most secular writing, but hieratic

continued to be used by the priestly class for several

more centuries, at least into the third century A.D.

Oldest example of hieratic script used for a surgical document, dated c. 1600 BC

(see page 32 – World History Textbook)

Demotic – Egyptian Shorthand of a Shorthand

Demotic WritingDemotic writing saw its beginnings during the 25th/26th Dynasty, 747 B.C. 525 B.C. This writing language developed out of hieratic, as hieratic developed from hieroglyphic, and was more illegible and the strokes were quicker than hieratic. Demotic texts are never transcribed into hieroglyphs because of the difficulty involved in finding a lost image in a short hand of a short hand. It was mostly used in administrative and private texts, but also in stories and inscriptions. However, Demotic never replaced hieratic completely. In fact, during the height of demotic writing, hieratic was still being used in religious texts.

(see page 32 – World History Textbook)

10 and 2 – “Exit Slip” Read page 32 in the textbookQuestions:1.Could we ever lose our language?

Why or Why not? Think of cell phone shorthand - texting.

URGr8t – BFFSlangEbonics Definition

2. What role does technology have in our language? Does it help or harm?

Texting – Cell Phone Shorthand B4N Bye for now BFF Best friends forever BRB Be right back BTDT Been there, done that BTW By the way COZ Because CUL8R See you later EG Evil Grin EZ Easy FYI For your information G2G Got to go GR8 Great GTG Got to go HAND Have a nice day IDK I don't know ILY I love you IM Instant messaging

IMHO In my humble opinion K Okay L8R Later LOL Laughing out loud MOS Mom over shoulder NE Any OMG Oh my gosh! PLZ Please POS Parent over shoulder ROTFL Rolling on the floor laughing RUOK? Are you okay? SOS Sibling over shoulder TMI Too much information TMTH Too much to handle TTFN Ta ta for now U You W/E Whatever XOXO Hugs and kisses Y Why ZZZ Tired or bored

A lost language. . .

The Rosetta Stone – After the New Kingdom declined, Egyptians forgot their language. In the 1800’s French Scholar Jean Champollion discovered the Rosetta Stone which helped in deciphering unknown hieroglyphics. The text of the Rosetta Stone is a decree from Ptolemy V, describing the repealing of various taxes and instructions to erect statues in temples.

(see page 32 – World History Textbook)

10-2: Page 14 New World History TextbookMaking Inferences:

“Read Between the Lines”

Complete the History of Communication Question 1-2

10-2 Conclusions?Example:• Writing cannot just be for the elite? Why?• Answer: Easily Lost – Lower Class Can be Controlled –

Literacy =Freedom

10-2 Conclusions?Example:• Writing cannot just be for the elite? Why?• Answer: Easily Lost – Lower Class Can be Controlled –

Literacy =FreedomOthers?

•Abstract Writing is quicker, more efficient, accurate, and provides a more precise interpretation – less mistakes.

•Language is needed to meet the complex needs of society

•Cultures follow the pattern from concrete to abstract

•Everyone needs to learn how to communicate

•Language is always evolving

•Literacy is a natural right – Everyone should be literate

•Language evolves over long periods of time

•There are limits to speech

•Literacy allows us to make our lives better – Protest, Persuade

•Throughout history, more literacy = more freedom – we can change our

government and ex. Dictatorship and Monarch to Democracy

Telephone Game