Book description
The idea behind the alphabet - that language with all its wealth of
meaning can be recorded with a few meaningless signs - is an
extraordinary one. So extraordinary, in fact, that it has occurred
only once in human history: in Egypt about 4000 years ago. Alpha
Beta follows the emergence of the western alphabet as it evolved
into its present form, contributing vital elements to our sense of
identity along the way. The Israelites used it to define their God,
the Greeks to capture their myths, the Romans to display their power.
And today, it seems on the verge of yet another expansion through the internet.
Tracking the alphabet as it leaps from culture to culture, John Man
weaves discoveries, mysteries and controversies into a story of
fundamental historical significance.
John Man
is an historian and travel writer with a special interest in Mongolia
and China. His books include
The Great Wall,
The Terracotta Army,
The Gutenberg Revolution
,
Genghis Khan
,
Kublai Khan
, and
Attila the Hun
.
