How did humans get from cave paintings to email? Michael and Mary B. Woods offer a piece of that history in this account of the history of the spoken and written word until the invention of the printing press in 1452. They begin with a discussion of early hunter-gatherers, as well as the process of human evolution that provided us with the ability to speak to each other. The investigation also covers ancient civilizations across the world, including Egyptian hieroglyphics, Sumerian cuneiform, and the Greek alphabet, among many others. The history of papermaking, from clay tablets to papyrus scrolls and beyond, fill in the jumps from culture to culture. Many civilizations made great headway in the art of communication, such as Mayan codices and early Chinese printing presses, that were then spread across the globe through trade and colonization. Though early recorded pieces are most often official records owing to limited literacy, these writings and drawings provide fascinating glimpses of history. This exploration of communication celebrates human innovation across history and provides readers with a solid context for modern-day communication.

From the Technology through the Ages series , this information-packed volume focuses on machines that improved the lives of people living in specific places and times throughout world history. Chapters focus on engineering advances achieved by civilizations in ancient Greece, Rome, China, Japan, the Middle East, and the Americas. The authors discuss certain worthwhile inventions from ancient times, noting that some, including the ancient Chinese wheelbarrow, are very close in design to modern versions, though made from different materials. The book also mentions some of the technological advances made during the Industrial Revolution. Each double-page spread includes at least one illustration, usually in color, such as a photo of an ancient artifact or a painting on an ancient Greek vase. A smoothly written, historical overview of machines.