Writing is vital to the transmission of culture, enabling civilizations to pass down their legacies, traditions, and beliefs throughout history. Law, literature, and science have been preserved through the centuries by being written down. In this program, learn more about the origins of writing by exploring the writing systems of ancient civilizations including Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Sumer. We'll also explore the origins of writing in China, the Phoenician alphabet, and the Arabic and Greek alphabets. Lastly, we will learn more about Johannes Gütenberg, the father of the printing-press, and his invention's evolution.

Originally released by Cerebellum Corporation, 2013. Streaming video file encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on July 10, 2018.

Communication Methods (2:11); --Writing (4:07); -- The Alphabet (1:23); -- The Printing Press (2:24); -- Summary (2:19); -- Credits: How Was Writing Born? (0:47); .