Writing has been with us for so long that we perceive it as an integral part of our lives. It helps us learn new things and remember old ones, preserve and pass on knowledge, and communicate with people around the world. Thanks to it, we know what Pythagoras was thinking about, where Alexander the Great led his troops, how to solve a quadratic equation, or how to make lemon cake. But what was writing like many thousands of years ago, when it first appeared? How has it changed, and what has it changed in its wake? Let's follow its amazing history, without which the world would not be what it is today. From this book you will learn: When the first words appeared and what they were like; How to get by without vowels; Who deciphers ancient languages; What connects modern writing with pictograms.