Category Archives: probably first in its area

Ogham – 300 AD, Ireland

Posted on November 11, 2011 by ducky

Ogham is a runic script mostly used in Ireland, but to a lesser extent in the northern island of Britain. While the earliest provable use dates from the 4th century AD, there are linguistic clues that it is older: there … Continue reading →

Posted in Alphabet, probably first in its area, Rating: 3 "I did not know that" | Leave a comment

Old Hungarian — 600? AD, Hungary

Posted on October 29, 2011 by ducky

Hungary, despite being solidly in Europe, has had a long history of trade with and conquest by Central Asian peoples.  It is not entirely clear where Hungarians came from — or more specifically, where the people who brought the Hungarian … Continue reading →

Posted in Alphabet, now ceremonial, probably first in its area, Rating: 3 "I did not know that" | 2 Comments

Sogdian — 200 AD, Uzbekistan

Posted on February 25, 2011 by ducky

Sogdiana was an important nation on the Silk Road in Central Asia from around 400 BC to 1000 AD.  Sogdian traders went far and wide as merchants, similar to the Phoenicians; like the Phoenicians, they spread their language and their … Continue reading →

Posted in Abjad, Alphabet, probably first in its area, Rating: 4 "Huh, interesting!" | 2 Comments

Sumerian cuneiform — 3200 BC, Iraq

Posted on January 2, 2011 by ducky

Scholars argue about which came first, Egyptian hieroglyphics or Sumerian cuneiform, but neither side has convinced me. Given that they developed within 100 years (in about 3200 BC) and 1000 kilometers of each other, it’s pretty certain that one led … Continue reading →

Posted in Logograms, probably developed by illiterate(s), probably first in its area, Rating: 4 "Huh, interesting!", technology influenced | 9 Comments