By Programmingeeksclub | Jun 21, 2021
Language plays a crucial role in human culture and history. The study of ancient languages can offer valuable insights into the lifestyles of ancient societies. The evolution of the world's oldest languages over time has left a lasting impression on modern society.
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Sumerian, dating back to 3200 BCE, is one of the earliest known written languages. It was used for religious, administrative, and literary purposes and written using cuneiform script on clay tablets in Mesopotamia, which is now Iraq.
Akkadian is an ancient language that was spoken in Mesopotamia from around 2400 BCE. It was the official language of the Assyrian and Babylonian empires and was used for administrative, legal, and literary purposes. Akkadian was written in cuneiform script and is known for its epic literature, including the Epic of Gilgamesh.
Egyptian, an ancient language from around 3000 BCE, used hieroglyphics for religious texts, inscriptions, and monumental architecture. Hieroglyphics were also used on papyrus, a paper-like material made from plants, for written documents.
Hittite was an ancient language in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) around 1600 BCE, written in cuneiform. Its legal and religious texts are renowned. The Hittites were a powerful civilization known for using iron weapons and chariots.
Hebrew, a Semitic language spoken in ancient Israel, is still used as the language of the Jewish religion. Dating back to 1000 BCE, it was used for religious texts and everyday communication. Hebrew is notable for its use in the Old Testament of the Bible.
Sanskrit is an ancient language of India, dating back to 1500 BCE, and used for religious texts, poetry, and philosophy. It has complex grammar and is studied today. It's known for its use in the Vedas, ancient Hindu texts forming the basis of Hinduism.
Chinese is an ancient language with written characters dating back to 1200 BCE. The oracle bone script was used for divination. Chinese has influenced East Asian culture and is still widely spoken today.
Phoenician was spoken in the Mediterranean around 1200 BCE, used for trade. Phoenicians were known for seafaring and commerce. Their script was one of the first alphabets, later evolving into Greek and Latin alphabets still used today.
Aramaic, spoken in the Middle East from the 10th century BCE to 5th century CE, was a lingua franca in the Persian Empire and spoken by Jesus. It's known for its use in religious texts like the Talmud and parts of the Bible.
Gothic is an ancient Germanic language spoken by the Goths in the 4th century CE. It's known for its translation of the Bible and has influenced modern Germanic languages like German and English.