Map of Ancient Mesopotamia

Writing in Mesopotamia

The Sumerians developed the first form

of writing. As Sumerian towns grew into
cities, the people needed a way to keep
track of business transactions, ownership
rights, and government records. Around
3300 BC the Sumerians began to use
picture symbols marked into clay tablets to
keep their records.
 Sumerian Writing by Unknown
Symbols were made with wedge shaped marks on clay tablets

Clay Tablets

Writing was inscribed on clay tablets. Scribes would take a stylus (a

stick made from a reed) and press the lines and symbols into soft,
moist clay. Once they were done, they would let the clay harden and
they had a permanent record.
Translating

Translating Mesopotamian writing is difficult for archeologists today. This is because there were over 700
different symbols and the symbols' meaning and shapes could change between different cities and
regions. The symbols often changed over time as well. However, many Sumerian tablets have been
deciphered. This is how we know so much about Mesopotamian culture, government, and history.

Literature

While most of the tablets discovered have been government and financial records, some of the writings
are literature. This literature includes mythology of the Mesopotamian gods, tales of their heroes, poetry,
and songs. Some of the writings include sayings of wisdom. The most famous and epic of all the
Mesopotamian literature is the story Gilgamesh. Go here to learn more about the Epic Tale of Gilgamesh.
•Interesting Facts About Sumerian WritingPeople signed items with personal seals
made of stone, metal, or wood.
•Later Mesopotamian civilizations such as the Assyrians and the Babylonians used
Sumerian writing.
•Cuneiform writing was around for thousands of years until it was replaced by the
Phoenician alphabet near the end of the neo-Assyrian Empire.
•Hieroglyphics was invented in Ancient Egypt about the same time as cuneiform in
Mesopotamia, but scientists believe that cuneiform came first.
•As far as archeologists can tell, the Sumerian language is not related to any other
language on Earth.
•Cuneiform refers to the way a language is written, not necessarily a particular language.
It was initially used in Mesopotamia to write Sumerian, but later was used for Akkadian
which the Sumerians, the Akkadians, the Babylonians, and the Assyrians all spoke.
Archetype of Gilgamesh
Myth of the Flood
Sagutin ang quiz gamit ang link na ito:

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tions.php