Ancient Scripts, Alphabets and Letters

Typographic Historical Survey 1

Cuneiformearly writing

system

3150 BC

wedge shaped

marks

clay tablets

invented by

Sumariens

Hieroglyphics

carved in stone

about 2500 BC

pictograph/

phonogram

invented by

Egyptians

transition into writing

Hieraticsreed brush and ink

for scribes and

kings

faster to write

religious writings

PhoenicianAlphabet

written with stylus

used in the

Mediterranean

1500 BC

defined system of

letters

GreekAlphabetinspired by

Phoenician

further defined

system

vowels and

consonants

miniscule

majuscule

750BC

Roman LettersGreeks>Etruscans

Romans>Latin

the letters we use

today

50BC

Roman Cursiveused by merchants

informal

handwriting

develops

Uncial Scriptmajuscule script

from roman cursive

broad form but

curved

parchment

Ornamental

200 AD