View source for 23. What was the significance of the development of the alphabet?

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In 1,000 BC, a system of writing unlike any other was invented, named for the site of its origin, Byblos, Phoenicia.(1) Previous systems of writing, such as Ancient Egyptian, were very complex and difficult to learn, as they could have hundreds of characters.(2) Byblos was the first simple form of writing, consisting of fewer letters, making it easier to learn. This form of writing spread very quickly, allowing people to begin to communicate through the form of writing. This was very convenient for the Phoenicians, as they traded all over the world, The simple characters of Byblos evolved into the Greek alphabet, which in turn led to the development of the modern English alphabet. Byblos also influenced the Russian and Arabic forms of writing. 

http://29letters.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/digram-arabic.jpg

Lexie Farnell
 
Sources:

(1) Manual Page 118

(2) http://www.ancient.eu/Egyptian_Hieroglyphs/

Image:

https://blog.29lt.com/2007/05/28/arabic-type-history/