After Class 2/9

Name of graphic style (or topic) studied this session:
Alphabets

Describe specific qualities of this style (or if it’s a topic, highlights of that topic) that will help you identify it in the future:
The Greek alphabet was a major achievement because it was the first to have vowels and be more phonetic; aesthetically, it was more geometric, symmetrical and organized. The Roman Empire, at its height in 100 CE, was also a major influence as they erected triumphal arches that introduced serifs and ligatures. Ireland had its hand in forming uncials (square, rustic lettering) as well as half-uncials, which are like our lower-case letters we have today. Finally, Charlemagne’s rule in 768 CE dictated that Caroline Minuscule/Carolingian hand become the standard of writing to his people.

What is the most useful or meaningful thing you learned today?
I enjoyed learning about how language is finally starting to look like that of our own language; it is interesting to see how much it had evolved at first (since ancient times) yet how little it seems to have evolved since Roman times as well.

Question:
What led the Celtic peoples to create half-uncials?