Writing Technologies In the Near and Far East Presentation by Mindy McAdams MMC 2265 Week 4, Thursday

Early Writing in China “ Oracle bones” are at least as old as 1200 B.C.E. Some have been dated to more than 7,000 years ago Turtle shells and animal bones were used to predict the future

“ Oracle bones” are at least as old as 1200 B.C.E.

Some have been dated to more than 7,000 years ago

Turtle shells and animal bones were used to predict the future

Writing on Wood and Bamboo c. 550 B.C.E.

Writing on bamboo slips may have begun as early as 1800 B.C.E. and continued until about 256 C.E.

“ But silk being expensive and bamboo heavy, these two materials were not convenient” (p. 86) Paper invented in China in 105 C.E. (or maybe 49 B.C.E. ?? ) Made from tree bark, rags, cloth fibers, fish nets, and also some plant fibers, e.g. hemp, bamboo Lao Tzu, 6 th century B.C.E.

“ But silk being expensive and bamboo heavy, these two materials were not convenient” (p. 86)

Paper invented in China in 105 C.E. (or maybe 49 B.C.E. ?? )

Made from tree bark, rags, cloth fibers, fish nets, and also some plant fibers, e.g. hemp, bamboo

There are more than 47,000 hanzi (Chinese characters); literacy requires 3,000–4,000 Spoken Chinese has eight major dialects; Mandarin is spoken by about 70 percent of all Chinese speakers worldwide All Chinese speakers can read the same texts Chinese Writing

There are more than 47,000 hanzi (Chinese characters); literacy requires 3,000–4,000

Spoken Chinese has eight major dialects; Mandarin is spoken by about 70 percent of all Chinese speakers worldwide

All Chinese speakers can read the same texts

The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C.E. He also standardized the writing system Various states had their own different writing styles The Qin script became the official style, and all states were required to use it

The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C.E.

He also standardized the writing system

Various states had their own different writing styles

The Qin script became the official style, and all states were required to use it

Islam and Papermaking The Prophet Muhammad died in 632 C.E. Muslim armies set out to conquer the world, starting with the Arabic Peninsula Pressing east, they conquered Persia Farther east, they conquered much of Central Asia – almost to China’s border Samarkand became a great center for manufacturing paper for export

The Prophet Muhammad died in 632 C.E.

Muslim armies set out to conquer the world, starting with the Arabic Peninsula

Pressing east, they conquered Persia

Farther east, they conquered much of Central Asia – almost to China’s border

Samarkand became a great center for manufacturing paper for export

The “Silk Road” – famed overland trade route (notice Samarkand ) Length: 5,000 miles

With 100 years of Muhammad's death. Islam had swept across the Near East, along the African coast and into Spain. It had reached its greatest extent by about 850 C.E. Samarkand is in present-day Uzbekistan

Religion and Writing A Chinese Buddhist, I Ching (635–713) traveled to India and Sumatra to translate scriptures from Sanskrit to Chinese He encountered: Block printing used by the Buddhist monks and priests Many stamped Buddha images on silk and paper Duplication of religious texts, including duplicates made via rubbing

A Chinese Buddhist, I Ching (635–713) traveled to India and Sumatra to translate scriptures from Sanskrit to Chinese

He encountered:

Block printing used by the Buddhist monks and priests

Many stamped Buddha images on silk and paper

Duplication of religious texts, including duplicates made via rubbing

India and Pakistan South and east of Samarkand Indus River Valley , in Pakistan Another ancient civilization, with writing Harappa, a small village founded c. 3500 B.C.E., had grown into a great city by 2600 B.C.E. Population: As large as 50,000 (?)

South and east of Samarkand

Indus River Valley , in Pakistan

Another ancient civilization, with writing

Harappa, a small village founded

c. 3500 B.C.E., had grown into a great city

by 2600 B.C.E.

Population: As large as 50,000 (?)

Indus Valley location (top inset)

The ancient Indus script (seen here on fired clay seals) has not been deciphered

Hinduism and Writing Hinduism is at least 4,000 years old Images of Hindu gods have been found in the Indus Valley excavations The four Vedas are the earliest literature of Hinduism; they began as lengthy oral accounts and later were written All ancient Hindu texts are written in Sanskrit (a spoken language) using a variety of writing systems

Hinduism is at least 4,000 years old

Images of Hindu gods have been found in the Indus Valley excavations

The four Vedas are the earliest literature of Hinduism; they began as lengthy oral accounts and later were written

All ancient Hindu texts are written in Sanskrit (a spoken language) using a variety of writing systems

Sanskrit language written in various writing systems used today in India

Writing Technologies In the Near and Far East Presentation by Mindy McAdams University of Florida