Ancient Writing and the History of the Alphabet

The Invention of Alphabets

Special Interest May 19, 2023 19 min The Great Courses Signature Collection

Available on Prime Video, The Great Courses Signature Collection

S1 E4: Follow the progression of writing systems in the ancient world with a look at the Phoenician alphabet as it developed from Egyptian hieroglyphics and spread across the Red Sea to the Middle East. Along the way, examine its influence on writing systems in other languages like Aramaic and Greek. Also, consider the advantages of an alphabet-based writing system for the spread of literacy.

Special Interest May 19, 2023 19 min The Great Courses Signature Collection

TV-PG

Information

Released: 2023
Run Time: 19 min
Rated: TV-PG

Languages

Original Audio: English
Audio: English (AAC), English (United States)
Subtitles: English (CC)

Accessibility

: Closed captions (CC) refer to subtitles in the available language with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.