How the rebus principle turned symbols into writing

Writing advanced when symbols began standing for sounds

A symbol that stood for one concrete thing could also be used for another word that sounded similar. This trick, called the rebus principle, made it possible to write words and ideas that were difficult to draw directly.

Maxwell realized that light is an electromagnetic wave

In the 1860s, James Clerk Maxwell's equations predicted electromagnetic waves moving at about the measured speed of light. The match led him to conclude that light itself is an electromagnetic wave. The equations also predicted other electromagnetic waves that had not yet been discovered.

Greek cities had to work together to defeat Persia

Greek victory over the much larger Persian Empire depended on alliances between city-states. They shared resources and split military jobs among themselves in ways that no single Greek city could have managed alone.

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How the rebus principle turned symbols into writing

Writing advanced when symbols began standing for sounds

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