Historia de la literatura PARTE 1: El origen de las letras

Summary

This script explores the evolution of writing from its earliest forms to the development of literature. It highlights that only 84% of the world's population can read and write, emphasizing the importance of literature in all its forms. The journey from pictographs to cuneiform is detailed, showcasing how early civilizations like Mesopotamia and Egypt contributed to the birth of writing systems. The script also touches on the rise of the first alphabets and the expansion of literature in ancient Greece and Rome, setting the stage for future discussions on literary movements.

Takeaways

• 📚 Only 84% of the world's population can read and write according to UNESCO's 2017 report, emphasizing the importance of literacy.
• 🌐 Literature is essential for humanity, regardless of its form, from poetry to scientific articles and social media posts.
• 📈 The number of books published annually is increasing, making it impossible to read all works published in just a few years.
• 🎨 Early forms of communication included pictographs and petroglyphs, which were simplified to represent complex ideas more efficiently.
• 🔄 The transition from pictographs to proto-writing, like the Vinča script and the Tartaria tablets, marked a step towards more abstract representation.
• 🏺 The Sumerians developed the first true writing system, cuneiform, around 3000 BCE, to record trade and commerce.
• 📜 The invention of writing allowed for the preservation of culture and history, moving from prehistory to recorded history.
• 📘 Literature emerged alongside writing, with the Sumerians recording not just commerce but also cultural legends like the Epic of Gilgamesh.
• 🔤 The development of the Phoenician consonantal alphabet led to the Greek alphabet, which included vowels and was a complete writing system.
• 🌟 The Greek alphabet's ability to be learned and pronounced without prior knowledge of the spoken language was revolutionary.
• 🏛 The absorption of Greek culture by the Roman Empire spread literature and led to the Latin alphabet, the basis for many modern Romance languages.

Q & A

What percentage of the world's population is literate according to UNESCO's 2017 report?

According to the UNESCO report from 2017, 84% of the world's population is literate.

Why is literature considered indispensable to humanity?

Literature is considered indispensable to humanity because it serves as a means to communicate knowledge and ideas, and it is essential for preserving culture and history over time.

How has the number of books published annually been trending?

The number of books published annually has been increasing, indicating a growing interest in literature and written content.

What is the significance of the transition from oral tradition to written records in early human history?

The transition from oral tradition to written records allowed for the preservation of information beyond memory, enabling the transmission and preservation of culture and knowledge across generations.

What is meant by 'pictographic writing' and how did it simplify the representation of reality?

Pictographic writing is a form of writing where each symbol represents an object or concept. It simplified the representation of reality by reducing complex images to their most distinctive features, making it easier to depict and understand.

What is 'proto-writing' and how does it differ from pictographic writing?

Proto-writing refers to a stage where symbols start to represent more abstract concepts and actions, but it still requires knowledge of the symbol's meaning as it cannot be deduced by common sense alone, unlike the more straightforward representations in pictographic writing.

How did the development of writing systems contribute to the rise of literature and recorded history?

The development of writing systems allowed for the recording of not just commercial and mathematical records but also cultural legends, historical accounts, and personal narratives, which collectively form the basis of literature and recorded history.

What is the significance of the Sumerian 'proto-cuneiform' writing system in the history of writing?

The Sumerian proto-cuneiform writing system is significant as it represents one of the earliest forms of writing that could record complex transactions and was the precursor to cuneiform, which became a major writing system in the ancient Near East.

How did the Greeks contribute to the development of literature and the concept of the writer's profession?

The Greeks contributed to the development of literature by elevating the status of poets and writers, creating new literary forms such as essays, and expanding on themes like philosophy. They also formalized literary genres and classifications.

What is the connection between the development of the Greek alphabet and the ability to learn languages?

The Greek alphabet was the first to include both consonants and vowels, making it possible to learn a language through reading and writing without prior spoken knowledge, which was a revolutionary development in language learning and literacy.

How did the Roman Empire's use of the Latin alphabet influence the spread of literature and languages?

The Roman Empire's use of the Latin alphabet facilitated the spread of literature and languages across its vast territories, leading to the development of the Romance languages that are derived from Latin, such as Spanish, French, and Italian.