What was reading like in 1000 bc?

In 1000 BC, reading was primarily limited to a small, educated elite, often involving the use of scripts like cuneiform in Mesopotamia and hieroglyphics in Egypt. Texts were typically inscribed on materials such as clay tablets, papyrus, or stone, and were often religious, legal, or administrative in nature. Literacy was not widespread, and oral traditions played a significant role in the transmission of stories and knowledge. Reading was a communal activity, often performed aloud, reinforcing social and cultural ties.