NOVA · Season 47 · Episode 11

“A to Z: The First Alphabet”

Aired Thursday 24 September 2020

Where would we be without the world's alphabets? Writing has played a vital role in the expansion and domination 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.

S47 E11 discussion