Dawn of History

The Dawn of History is the birth of writing — the first time that human beings had developed enough socially to invent, and use, writing (which they did in Mesopotamia at Sumer before 3000 BCE) — an is the literal beginning of a new era.

Perhaps this is also how the first scholar-scribes felt in employing this brand new technology and way of life.

The Dawn of History is the birth of a new era. A clear transition visible in the archaeological record. Before which we have nameless burials and artefacts. Afterwards, we have complex personalities, and events. (For example, we have the mention of the Trojan War from multiple directions, not just Greek but Hittite references as well.)

But it is more than just light in the darkness. The gift of writing did not come alone, and came with a greater Cultural Zeitgeist — a movement — filled with many moving parts that collectively effect the trajectory of humanity. New technologies were employed, and new structures were built. Religion came alive in a way that we do not have before (because written records record thoughts in great detail) and humanity built the first cities that the world has ever known.

The Role of Scholar Priests at the Dawn of History

I wonder if the first scribes were aware that they were at the beginning of a new age. (Personally, I feel that there were some who had this intuition. Especially those knowledgeable of earlier times.) At the dawn of history the first people who used writing where regarded as some form of scholar-priest or scribe-priest. They appear to have performed the duty of managers and administrators in general. At least, something along these lines.

As managers in construction, the functioned as engineers, architects, designers, and overseers of the work crew. In the temple, they took care of the god (at least an idol of the god kept in the heart of every temple). Again in the temple, they would also oversee the production and distribution of goods (such as grain and wool) acting as business owners and accountants.

We can imagine that there were many different roles that scribes played in the greater Scribal Community (whether they were the Scribes of Sumer, Egypt, or Ancient China).