Writing in Ancient 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.
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.
Cuneiform
The initial writing of the Sumerians utilized simple
pictures or pictograms. For example, a drawing of
a person’s head meant the word “head.” Over time, however, the writing of the
Sumerians further developed to include sounds and meanings. Scribes would use the
stylus to make wedge shaped marks in the clay. This type of writing is called
cuneiform writing, which means “wedge-shaped.”
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 (de-coded). 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.
Interesting Facts about Sumerian Writing
 People 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 with
the Phoenician alphabet near the end of the neo-Assyrian Empire.
 Hieroglyphics were invented in Ancient Egypt about the same time as
cuneiform in Mesopotamia, but scientists believe that cuneiform came first.
 As far as archaeologists can tell, the Sumerian language is not related to any
other language on earth.
Continue scrolling down to see the quiz questions for this
reading!
Quiz Questions
(In your notebook, number 1-10. Write the correct letter answer next to each question number.)
1. What type of material did the Sumerians write on?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Paper
Papyrus
Animal Hides
Lenin Cloth
Clay Tablets
2. What does the word “cuneiform” mean?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Picture Words
Writing in Sumerian
Clay
Wedge Shaped
Sound Pictures
3. About when did the Sumerians start to use writing to make
records?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
5000 BC
4200 BC
3300 BC
2700 BC
2200 BC
4. What was the stylus used for?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
To harden the clay and make the writing permanent
To make wedge-shaped marks in the clay
To write ink onto the clay
All of the above
None of the above
5. What was the stylus made of?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
A stick from a reed plant
Iron
Wound up goat hair
Bronze
A stick with a flint point attached
6. True or False: Translating the writing of the Mesopotamian people
is easy for archeologists today?
a. True
b. False
7. What is the most famous piece of Mesopotamian literature?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
The Gardens of Babylon
The Tombs of Ur
The Library of Nineveh
The Epic of Gilgamesh
The Tale of Sargon the Great
8. Which civilization is generally credited with inventing writing for
the first time?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Greeks
Persians
Babylonians
Assyrians
Sumerians
9. True or False: The writing method of the Sumerians was used by
many future civilizations for thousands of years.
a. True
b. False
10. What other civilization came up with their own writing called
hieroglyphs a bit later than the Mesopotamians?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Greeks
Romans
Egyptians
Mayans
Mongols