c. 800 BCEReputable sourceWell documented
The Greek Alphabet and the Vowel
On the timeline · around c. 800 BCE ·
What happened
The Greeks adopted the Phoenician alphabet but made a crucial addition: separate letters for vowel sounds. This produced the first true alphabet capable of recording the full sound of speech, and it was used to write down Homer's epics and the works of the classical Greek world.
Why it matters
The Greek innovation of vowels created the model for every alphabet in the Western tradition. It made writing a fuller and more precise record of language — and helped preserve the literature and philosophy of ancient Greece.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Greek Alphabet · Reputable source
Related timelines
- Ancient Greece → — The alphabet that recorded Homer and the classics