Nova

Writing shaped our world and the rise of human knowledge, from the trading of goods to tales of ancient goddesses and kings. Follow the evolution of the written word, from 4,000-year-old carvings in an Egyptian turquoise mine to modern-day alphabets.

The birth of writing and the first alphabet were among the world’s most vital inventions.

A to Z: The First Alphabet

to Z: The First Alphabet

A to Z: The First Alphabet Preview

to Z: The First Alphabet Preview

For tens of thousands of years, Aboriginal culture has been handed down orally through song and poetry without the need to write anything down.

In the Wardaman Creation Story, all the plants and animals of the world were once people.

Aboriginal Elder Sings Ancient Creation Song

Almost all the letters of the Latin alphabet are derived from the hieroglyphs that the Canaanites of Serabit chose to represent the sounds of their tongue.

Learn why Egyptian hieroglyphs are hiding in modern alphabets—and how to find them.

How Egyptian Hieroglyphs Influenced Modern Alphabets

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Where would we be without the world’s alphabets? Writing has played a vital role in the development and expansion of cultures throughout history. But researchers are only now uncovering the origin story to our own alphabet, which may have gotten its beginnings in a turquoise mine 4,000 years ago. From the shape of the letter A to the role of writing in trade and storytelling, discover how the written word shaped civilization itself. (Premiered September 23, 2020)

German Archaeological Institute

British Museum

The birth of writing and the first alphabet were among the world’s most vital inventions.

Ancient Worlds

Just as handwritten records changed how societies work, the printing press transformed the spread of information, igniting the Industrial Revolution. How did technologies–from pen to paper to printing press—make it all possible?

The creation of printing, the first information technology, drove empires and revolutions.

A to Z: How Writing Changed the World Promo

to Z: How Writing Changed the World Promo

The European printing revolution began in Germany in 1448 when goldsmith Johannes Gutenberg began casting letters in metal.

The Printing Press Revolutionized the Spread of Information

Printing Press Revolutionized the Spread of Information

A to Z: How Writing Changed the World

to Z: How Writing Changed the World

The last remaining master animal-skin parchment maker in the world demonstrates how paper was made in medieval Europe (and why it wasn’t for vegetarians).

Learn about the preparation and use of parchment paper in medieval Europe.

How Medieval Parchment is Made

Just as writing changed the course of human history, the evolution of paper and printing revolutionized the spread of information. While the invention of paper boosted Chinese and Islamic societies, the simple fact that the Latin alphabet could be printed using a small number of discrete, repetitive symbols helped popularize moveable type, handing Europe a crucial advantage at the beginning of the Renaissance. The printing press itself kicked off the scientific revolution that fast-tracked us to the current digital age. (Premiered September 30, 2020)

The creation of printing, the first information technology, drove empires and revolutions.

Writing and printing are perhaps the greatest inventions of all time, changing the course of human history through the spread of ideas. In this two-part series, NOVA explores how writing began and reveals the astonishing origins of our own alphabet. Then, researchers investigate the origins of the printing press, which kicked off the Industrial Revolution and led to swift technological advancement and the expansion of cultures. (A two-part series premiering September 23 at 9 pm on PBS)

Discover how writing—and eventually printing—revolutionized the spread of information.

Discover how writing—and eventually printing—revolutionized the spread of information.

A to Z Episodes

A to Z: The First Alphabet

A to Z: How Writing Changed the World