Ancient writing, manuscripts and records: short videos

This page explores ancient writing systems, manuscripts, and records through a series of short videos, each linking to its source. You will learn about diverse topics such as cuneiform, a logo-syllabic writing system from southern Mesopotamia, and the Phoenician alphabet, a consonantal script used across the Mediterranean. The page also covers the Timbuktu manuscripts, historic texts preserved in northern Mali, and the Code of Hammurabi, a Babylonian legal text inscribed on basalt. Other subjects include the quipu, a record-keeping device made of knotted cords from the Andes, and the Book of Kells, a vibrant illustrated Latin manuscript. Each video provides a concise introduction to these significant artifacts and writing systems from various cultures and periods.