The First alphabets- With reference to "The complete Typographer" by Christopher Perfect

The Origins of the alphabet has caused much debate, there are many different theories as to when the first writing system was established.
The introduction of a writing system was a huge step for civilisation and helped develop many aspects of life from education, communication or clarification in the form of directions, recording stock, wealth etc
An alphabet is 'A writing system with one unique visual sign (letter) for each consonant and vowel sound (although there were no vowels in the earliest alphabets) which can be combined to form visual units (words) to represent a spoken language.'
The alphabet has been the most successful writing system. From about 1500BC it has survived despite many dramatic changes in the history of the Western world and is still used today.
Though we do not know how the alphabet came about what is known is that the Semitic people - the Phoenicians developed a new phonetic language in 1500BC which is what is believed to be the first alphabetic system. It consisted of a symbol for each of the 22 consonant sounds. It had some visual similarities to Egyptian Hieroglyphs though significantly the phoenician alphabet did not use any pictograms.
Due to the phoenicians strategic positioning on the Eastern Mediterranean coast in a bid to maximise the use of sea travel when it came to exporting their goods. These business relationships with neighbouring areas allowed the phoenician alphabet system to spread, by 800BC it had made its way west to Greece.
During this time in Greece there was many different dialects and alphabets in use. However eventually two alphabets emerged the Ionian in the east of the country and the Chalcidian in the west.
There were several similarities between these early Greek alphabets and the phoenician alphabet. These include the order and names of letters and the direction of writing which was from right to left. (or sometimes alternative)
From about 500BC the direction of writing was reversed so now read left to right.
403BC the Ionian alphabet was officially adopted as the Classical Greek alphabet in Athens. it was Chalcidian however that had been the most influenced by the phoenician alphabet and was the model for all other succeeding alphabets to emerge from Western Europe.
Around 675BC trade developed between Greeks and the Etruscans who had migrated from Asia to the west coast of Italy. This communication that the influence of the Greek Chalcidian spread to Italy and is believed to be a main factor behind the Etruscan alphabet.
The Etruscans remained dominant in Italy for some 250 years . 100 years later their power was lost to Rome. They left considerable legacy to the Romans such as architecture, law, roads and other trappings of a civilised society.
the Etruscan alphabet was inspiration of the Roman alphabet which we still use today. The Romans made slight adoptions to some letters, introduced others and removed a few too. The result was a 23 letter alphabet we still use today with the addition of J,U and W which were not added until the Middle ages.