FROM CAVE WALLS TO CYBERSPACE

History Is Written By Writers: 10 Events That Shaped Our Communication

Image: Glenn Carstens-Peters

From ancient cave drawings to the digital age, the way we record and convey information has always been at the heart of human culture. Writing not only enabled us to better grasp the world we live in, but also to bridge vast distances of time and space, linking us with our past and our future.

Join us to explore ten pivotal moments in the history of writing. We are about to unravel a captivating tale of human ingenuity and deep cultural transformation.

Image: Rabah Al Shammary

Before the dawn of formal writing systems, the earliest forms of communication took shape in the form of cave paintings, petroglyphs, and engraved symbols. These primitive markings served as visual expressions of early human experiences, beliefs, and cultural practices, laying the groundwork for the development of more sophisticated writing systems.

Image: Egor Myznik

The birth of cuneiform script in Mesopotamia marks the dawn of recorded history. Developed by the Sumerians around 3500 BCE, this early form of writing consisted of wedge-shaped symbols impressed on clay tablets. This breakthrough technique allowed for the first time the systematic recording of transactions, laws, and even literature.

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One of the earliest known literary works in human history, the Epic of Gilgamesh, also holds the significant honor of being the first heroic narrative ever written. The epic poem recounts the adventures of Gilgamesh, a legendary king of Uruk. Its universal themes of friendship, love, and mortality resonate across millennia, shaping the narrative tradition of storytelling and influencing later literary works (like the Homeric epics).

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The Phoenician alphabet, developed by the ancient Phoenicians around 1100 BCE, represented a monumental leap forward in the history of writing. Unlike earlier writing systems, which primarily relied on logograms or syllabic symbols, the Phoenician alphabet is considered the first purely alphabetic script. Consisting of only 22 consonant letters (vowel sounds were implicit), this early alphabet greatly simplified the process of writing and reading, paving the way for the development of many other alphabetic scripts like Greek, Latin, and Cyrillic.

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The establishment of early universities in medieval Europe played a crucial role in the advancement of writing and literacy. Emerging during the High Middle Ages, institutions such as the University of Bologna, Oxford University, and the University of Paris became centers of learning and intellectual exchange. The rise of universities fostered a culture of scholarship and critical inquiry, fueling the demand for written texts and contributing to the dissemination of knowledge across Europe.

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In the year 1440 CE, German inventor Johannes Gutenberg revolutionized the spread of information with his design for a movable type printing press. With the ability to produce up to 3,600 pages per day, the new printing press enabled for the first time the mass production of books, making the written word accessible to everyone - and not just scholars or the elite. This groundbreaking innovation deeply changed the way information and ideas moved within societies, bringing about social and scientific advances of all kinds.

Image: Daria Kraplak

Although there were many previous attempts at similar designs, the first typewriter to be commercially successful was patented in 1868 by American inventor Christopher Latham Sholes, with the assistance of a team of printers and mechanical engineers. This mechanical marvel not only streamlined the process of producing documents, making writing faster and more efficient, but also empowered individuals to express themselves freely, revolutionizing both literature and journalism.

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Tim Berners-Lee's creation of the World Wide Web revolutionized how we access and share information. Initially conceived as a "universal linked information system," the web largely democratized access to information and, for the first time in history, offered anyone the possibility of disseminating knowledge on a global scale. The main pillar behind the Information Age, widespread access to the Internet has forever changed the way we think about the world and our societies.

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The advent of social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram facilitated instantaneous global connectivity, reshaping how we interact, share ideas, and consume information in the digital age. As of 2015, studies show that there are as many as 4.76 billion social media users in the world, more than half of the total global population.

Image: Alina Grubnyak

Advancements in artificial intelligence, such as OpenAI's GPT models, are currently reinventing the way we write and produce digital content. These AI-powered tools assist writers, automate content generation, and even produce literature, blurring the lines between human and machine creativity. Although the system is still in development, and it is far from perfect, it has the potential to completely change the way we write, or even think about writing!

WISH US LUCK

Believe It Or Not, Here Are 10 Wacky Superstitions From Around The World!

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Think back on all the lucky pennies you or someone you know have picked up through the years. Maybe you stored a four-leaf clover between the pages of your favorite book or put on that lucky shirt the day you had a nerve-wracking exam. Superstitions are one of the few aspects of culture that surpass generations. There’s a pretty big chance that your grandparents shared those same quirky rituals and traditions with you.

While some are fairly global, every culture has its own set of local and unique superstitions. We have gathered a couple on this list so you might find new ways to improve your luck on those days you need it the most.

Image: Gavin Allanwood

The first day of the month can be quite stressful: bills start coming in, assignments begin to pile up, and all those chores we set aside for the next month suddenly knock on your door. We know how overwhelming the responsibilities of adult life can be, so we brought up this charming method that almost seems like a children’s game.

According to an ancient superstition that originated in the United Kingdom, saying the word "rabbit" right after you wake up on the first day of the month brings good luck for the remaining days. This ritual has been around since at least the 1900s and has found its way to other English-speaking countries. Supposedly, President Franklin Roosevelt said "rabbit, rabbit" each first day of the month, and he carried a rabbit’s foot during the 1932 election (which he won by a landslide).

Image: David Tomaseti

Your health should be the main concern that drives you to quit cigarettes. However, if you are looking for extra motivation to stop smoking, you might want to look into this superstition. Some European countries believe that if you light a cigarette with a candle, a sailor will die. Ever the superstitious lot, the origins of this belief can obviously be traced back to sailors. When they returned to shore, sailors would make and sell matches to supplement their income while waiting to sail back. Therefore, lighting a cigarette with a candle would take away much-needed money from a sailor, who might starve without the earnings of his side job.

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You might be familiar with wedding traditions that involve smashing plates against the floor: German couples smash porcelain plates to ward off evil spirits, and Greeks cheerfully shout Opa! over broken plates for good luck. Also, people from Denmark have a similar tradition for New Year’s Eve. Danes save up their old plates and glasses through the year and then throw them at the doorsteps of their friends and family. This might sound aggressive, but this beloved ritual supposedly wishes the recipient good luck for the upcoming year.

Image: Adam Wilson

We discussed the fortune that intentionally breaking plates can bring, but what happens when you break something by accident? Breaking a plate in a U.S. restaurant might make the other customers applaud you, but rest assured that those claps are absolutely sarcastic. However, if you accidentally break a bottle of alcohol in a Japanese bar, you might find that the cheers you receive are genuine. Japanese people believe that this brings both good luck and bigger profits to the bar. However, it has to be an accident: intentionally breaking a bottle of delicious Japanese whisky will bring you nothing but trouble.

Image: National Cancer Institute

According to horror movies, it's probably not a good idea to stroll through a dark forest on a full moon night; you might end up encountering a werewolf.

We are all familiar with the werewolf myth: a helpless person, previously bitten and cursed, that forcefully transforms into a bloodthirsty wolf every full moon. However, people from Argentina have their very own spin on this myth, on which the causes of this affliction are not a dooming bite, but rather being born into a large family.

According to legend, the seventh son of a family only composed of boys will become a Lobizon, the Argentinean equivalent of a werewolf. However, the only way to stop a Lobizon does not come from a silver bullet, but from baptism. When the seventh son of a family is born, the president of Argentina becomes their godparent and sends a gold medal to congratulate the baptism of the would-be werewolf.

Image: Dahlia E. Akhaine

Blarney Castle is not only an iconic landmark that must be seen when visiting Ireland, but this medieval stronghold is also home to a beloved Irish tradition. The Blarney Stone, located in the battlements of the castle, is visited by millions of tourists with a single objective in mind: kissing the stone. According to legend, the Blarney stone grants whoever kisses it great eloquence and skill at flattery. However, this task is not as easy as it sounds: To kiss the stone, visitors must climb up to the top of the castle, and then lean backward over the parapet’s edge.

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If you visit the website of Turkey’s Ministry of Culture, you might come upon a page detailing over 100 different Turkish superstitions. They range from those involving animals, like "It is good to see scorpions in one’s dreams", to several involving water. Among those is the belief that water where moonlight has reflected shouldn’t be drunk, since they might curse anyone who drinks this water with bad luck. The moon, however, is not always considered a bad omen by Turkish people: Many believe that a baby born under the full moon will be lucky and have a bright future.

Image: Kelsey Chance

Remember that iconic scene in the film "My Best Friend’s Wedding", where an entire dinner bursts into an acapella rendition of Aretha Franklin’s "I Say a Little Prayer"? As ingrained into pop culture as that scene is, it should be noted that, had that wedding happened in The Netherlands, other customers of the dinner might not have been so thrilled about the impromptu performance. According to this superstition, whoever sings at the dinner table is singing to the devil and praising him for the food. So remember: if your best friend happens to get married in The Netherlands, leave any Aretha Franklin song for karaoke night.

Image: George Bakos

According to an old phrase, in order to live a full life, a person should have a child, write a book, and plant a tree. While we might not guarantee that this is the formula for a perfect life, we can provide our two cents and add that, if you happen to plant that tree on your wedding day, you might be able to bring good luck to your new marriage. According to a tradition followed in the Netherlands and Switzerland, planting a pine tree outside your home to celebrate your wedding will provide the new home with good fortune and fertility.

Image: Tushar Gidwani

If you visit China during the Chinese New Year, you might be surprised to see several people thoroughly sweeping their homes, particularly their front doors. This is because, according to Chinese tradition, good fortune enters through the front door of your home. People clean their homes to say goodbye to the previous year, while also carefully sweeping inwards to avoid accidentally sweeping good fortune. After this ritual, no cleaning can be performed during the first two days of the New Year to avoid dispelling good luck.