Thanks to the use of clay tablets as a writing medium, cuneiform records have survived for thousands of years, providing a fascinating glimpse into the political, economic, and religious institutions of ancient Mesopotamia.

"So, when--and where--did writing first emerge? Why did early humans find it necessary to record their thoughts in a visual medium? How did cultures that had relied solely on spoken language for thousands of years create symbols that could carry meaning? And how did all the many scripts and systems that developed over the centuries lead us to the 26-letter alphabet of the English language? Embark on a journey to the very beginning of writing as a...