Israel Finkelstein in The Bible Unearthed notes that writing systems develop in response to a need for record-keeping. This occurs when a political entity reaches the point of true statehood and the "king" or whatever title you wish to hang on him, needs to keep track of his property. Literature develops later on.
He makes a compelling argument and the introduction of tax records, product inventory, and labels appears right on time in the northern kingdom of "Israel" and a century later in the southern kingdom of "Judah."
He makes a compelling argument and the introduction of tax records, product inventory, and labels appears right on time in the northern kingdom of "Israel" and a century later in the southern kingdom of "Judah."
