ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Linear B

Linear B is an ancient form of writing that was used by a group of people called the Mycenaeans over 3,000 years ago. They lived in what is now Greece, and they used Linear B to write down things like their history, myths, and even recipes for food!

Linear B looks like a bunch of squiggly lines and shapes, but each one actually stands for a different sound in the Mycenaean language. Just like how you can use letters to make words in English, the Mycenaeans used Linear B to make words in their language.

The interesting thing about Linear B is that it was almost forgotten for a long time. The Mycenaeans disappeared, and nobody knew how to read their writing anymore. Then, in the early 1900s, archaeologists found some tablets covered in Linear B writing. They worked hard to decode the writing and figured out what language it was in!

Today, we still study Linear B to learn more about the Mycenaean civilization and their language. It's like a secret code that we have to solve to understand their history.