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| − | The Sumerians invented the world's first form of writing in around 3000 BC. They carved triangular and wedge-shaped symbols into wet clay tablets with dried reeds. This script was called cuneiform. Each symbol stood for a particular sound. For example, the Sumerian word for barley
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| − | was "she", so, scribes would write a series of symbols which, when put together, would form the word barley. Cuneiform symbols could be arranged in
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| − | many different ways to spell words in many different Mesopotamian languages. Mesopotamians used the writing to record daily events (such as births and marriages), momentous occasions (such as a coronation), literature (such as the myths like ''The Epic of Gilgamesh''), astronomy to determine the calendar (which was used to identify the dates of holidays) and later, laws.
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| − | However, the overwhelming majority of writing was used for economic purposes. Figures, accounts, bills, prices, business and land transactions, taxes
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| − | owed and taxes payed, inventories: these were the most common use for cuneiform.
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| − | http://forces.si.edu/soils/images/media/library_038_lg.jpg
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| − | - Sophie Gillard
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| − | == References ==
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| − | Ancient Origins: History Manual, pg.89
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| − | Websites: [http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/writing/story/sto_set.html]
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| − | Images:
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| − | [http://forces.si.edu/soils/04_00_38.html]
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Revision as of 14:56, 8 December 2015
Back to '''History 8 Mesopotamia Questions''
