Cuneiform was the first writing system developed by the Sumerians in 3,000 BC, where symbols were drawn onto wet clay tablets using a wedge-shaped tool. Hieroglyphics was Egypt's contribution where sacred symbols and objects represented letters and sounds. The Phoenicians then invented the first true alphabet system where each symbol represented a phonetic sound, which many later nations adapted and improved upon and serves as the basis for modern alphabets today.

2. Cuneiform

3. • The first writing system
• Sumerian
• 3,000 BC
• Done by drawing the symbols
on a wet clay tablet
• Latin word “cuneus” means
“wedge”

4. HIEROGLYPHICS

5. • Egypt’s contribution
• Came from the Greek words
“hieros” which means ‘sacred’
and glypho which is to ‘engrave’.
• Represent objects and sounds.
• Created their alphabet system
which consists of 24 symbols
representing certain letters.

6. PAPYRUS
• Egyptians contribution
• Paper made from the pith of papyrus

7. Phoenician Alphabet

8. • It was the Phoenicians who
developed the higher level of
writing they invented an alphabet
system that represents sounds
instead of symbols. Each symbol has
phonetic value. Many nations
adapted and improved this system,
and considered this as the basis of
the alphabet system that you are
using today.