Thread by @SeshatDatabank

The emergence of written records can lead to the development of complex social and economic structures. Written records also create more physical evidence for historians and archaeologists. Our databank shows when written records first evolved across the world. #Seshat
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Ancient Mesoamerican civilizations wrote using hieroglyphs. In Oaxaca, the Zapotec writing system dates back to 600 BCE. Archaeologists have found about 350 inscribed stones dating to Monte Alban I and II (500 BCE-199 CE) seshatdatabank.info/data/polities/…. #Seshat (2/9)

In the Ghanaian Coast, the Akin language had a strong oral tradition. Akin was first written down by Danish, German, and British missionaries in the 17th and 18th centuries (Ager 2013). seshatdatabank.info/data/polities/… #Seshat (3/9)

The earliest written works in Kansai are 8th century imperial histories. Kojiki (712 CE) and Nihon Shoki (720 CE) are compilations of historical records and ancient legends. Writing was likely introduced from China in the early fifth century. seshatdatabank.info/data/polities/… #Seshat (4/9)

The first written records in Upper Egypt date to the last phase of Naqada culture (3200-3000 BCE). Phonetic hieroglyphic writing was found in a tomb in the Abytos Cemetery on pottery vessels and small bone and ivory labels (Kohler 2010). seshatdatabank.info/data/polities/… #Seshat (5/9)

The western alphabet seems to have arrived in Italy around 700 BCE. While writing has been found in elite tombs, historians believe most Italian people were illiterate before the rise of Etruscan and Roman civilizations seshatdatabank.info/data/polities/… #Seshat (6/9)
Etruscan cippus.

The oldest known example of writing in the Niger Inland Delta is from a tomb inscription from 1100 CE in Gao (modern Mali). seshatdatabank.info/data/polities/… #Seshat (7/9)

The Chinese writing system dates to the Shang (1250-1045 BCE). The Shang inscribed 107,000 oracle bones (Roberts 2003). They also wrote on strips of bamboo and silk, but these records have not survived. seshatdatabank.info/data/polities/… #Seshat (8/9)

However, there are highly organized societies that did not keep written records. The Inca Empire and other ancient Andean cultures used “talking knots”, or quipu to keep complex records. seshatdatabank.info/data/polities/…*
#Seshat

Etruscan cippus (grave marker) from the necropolis Crocifisso del Tufo outside Orvieto, Italy. Side view showing the inscription in the Old Italic (Etruscan) alphabet.

One of dedicatory records of Tōdai-ji temple (top detail). Dated June 21, 756. Shosoin Collection, Nara, Japan