Writing transitioned from mnemonic signs to phonetic symbols.

Evidence

The crucial breakthrough to real writing came when it was first understood that a graphic symbol, like the one for beer on the tablet, could be used to mean not just the thing it showed, but what the word for the thing sounded like. — Neil MacGregor, A History of the World in 100 Objects, 264

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Neil MacGregor, A History of the World in 100 Objects, 264
• XREF: connects to: Writing transitioned from record-keeping to expressing ideas through literature. — Neil MacGregor, A History of the World in 100 Objects, 287; Deciphering hieroglyphs was facilitated by the coexistence of pictorial and phonetic symbols. — Neil MacGregor, A History of the World in 100 Objects, 551; Papyrus availability enabled Greek culture’s shift from oral to written form — Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen, The Library- A Fragile History, 53 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Deciphering hieroglyphs was facilitated by the coexistence of pictorial and phonetic symbols. #expands (0.70) — Neil MacGregor, A History of the World in 100 Objects, 551
• Writing transitioned from record-keeping to expressing ideas through literature. #expands (0.60) — Neil MacGregor, A History of the World in 100 Objects, 287