Writing is an essential part of our society. Our lives are built on the foundations of being able to comprehend and apply language. From early human existence to now, writing has been continually changing and developing. Our writing today is far more complex than what was used to communicate thirty thousand years ago. Cave paintings are one of the earliest known forms of written communication (Hills), and while they may have been advanced for the time, they are nowhere close to what we have today. Without writing, it is hard for a society to advance. “Writing is technology” (Hills). When we use the word technology, it is often associated with computers, cellphones, and other electronic communication devices. However, technology is a type of communication, not a specific device (Hills). Writing allows societies to interact in ways that would not be possible otherwise.
Sumerians were among the first groups of people to use writing as communication (Mark). They used pictographs to transfer messages across the vast span of Mesopotamian cities (Mark). The Sumerian civilization developed from their ability to communicate. They became united by being able to understand one another. Without pictographs, the Sumerians still would have been able to survive, but would not have developed Mesopotamia (Mark). Societies develop based on their interactions. Having a written way to communicate allowed for each Mesopotamian city to share their thoughts, beliefs, and way of life with one another. This concept is just as important for today’s society as it was for Mesopotamia. Writing allows us to express our own ideas as well as listen to ideas of others. However, how we do such has changed overtime. In the time between early Sumerian pictographs and society today, many groups have developed their own way of writing. The Greeks created a twenty-four character alphabetic system, the Chinese invented paper, and by the late 1400s, book production was booming (Hills). While each group had their own advancement for their time, they also built upon advancements made by societies before them. Writing has allowed societies to constantly reach new milestones. What we are able to do with our writings today is beyond what the Sumerians could imagine.
As time goes on, the purpose for writing experiences changes (Hills). As societies develop, writing is able to take on new forms of communication. Greek philosophers used writing to record mythological tales and Monks used writing to compose religious works (Hills). These new groups strayed away from the practical uses of writing to discover more personal uses. Emotions such as “…love, fear, betrayal, and hope…” (Hills) were developed into writing continued through the years.
In today’s society, we have developed ways of writing that allow us to both communicate and express our emotions. Social media has become one of the most influential factors of many people’s lives. Our society has developed a way for our writing and opinion to be constantly heard. We have become so advanced that communication is no longer needed to be solely for survival. Rather, we use communication and writing as a way to express ourselves. At the touch of our fingers, people are able to share not only words but photos as well. People are able to share who there are with the rest of the world through media and express emotions in ways similar to those of the Greeks centuries ago.
Writing has not only affected society but also formulated the basis for the media culture that we have today. The development of writing has allowed us to have the twenty-first century communication abilities we do. Writing allowed for societies such as the Sumerians and Greeks to form complex lives. Without these groups, our lives could be very different from they are today.
