When people began using Hieroglyphics?
The ancient Egyptians spoke a language related to the languages of the middle east and north Africa. Those who could, wrote using a system of picture writing, called hieroglyphics. The Egyptians began using hieroglyphics in about 3000 BC, shortly after the first known examples of writing appeared in Sumer. Each picture or hieroglyph, could stand for an object a sound, some represented a letter; others upto five letters.