Writing System

Cuneiform

CuneiformCuneiform

Early WritingEarly Writing

• The earliest writing was based on pictograms.The earliest writing was based on pictograms.• Pictograms were used to communicate basic Pictograms were used to communicate basic

information about crops and taxes. information about crops and taxes. • Over time, the need for writing changed and Over time, the need for writing changed and

the signs developed into a script we call the signs developed into a script we call cuneiform. cuneiform.

• Cuneiform is a writing system invented in Cuneiform is a writing system invented in southern Mesopotamia. southern Mesopotamia.

Development of WritingDevelopment of Writing

• Cuneiform was used by other people like the Cuneiform was used by other people like the Sumerians and Akkadians, because they Sumerians and Akkadians, because they needed to be able to record information but needed to be able to record information but they had not established a written form of they had not established a written form of languagelanguage

• Cuneiform was used to record a variety of Cuneiform was used to record a variety of information such as temple activities, business information such as temple activities, business and trade. Cuneiform was also used to write and trade. Cuneiform was also used to write stories, myths, and personal letters. stories, myths, and personal letters.

The development of Writing

• Around 3100 B.C. people began to record Around 3100 B.C. people began to record amounts of different crops. Barley was one of amounts of different crops. Barley was one of the most important crops in southern the most important crops in southern Mesopotamia and when it was first drawn it Mesopotamia and when it was first drawn it looked like this.looked like this.

Tools for writingTools for writing• Scribes drew the sign on soft clay tablets Scribes drew the sign on soft clay tablets

using a pointed tool, probably made out using a pointed tool, probably made out of a reed. of a reed.

• For hundreds of years, the signs drawn For hundreds of years, the signs drawn on clay tablets hardly changed.on clay tablets hardly changed.

Tools for Writing

• Scribes eventually invented a writing tool with Scribes eventually invented a writing tool with a squared-off end instead of a pointa squared-off end instead of a point

• The end of this tool was used to press wedge The end of this tool was used to press wedge shapes. This changed the shape of the signs. shapes. This changed the shape of the signs. Barley now looks like thisBarley now looks like this

The Scribes RoleThe Scribes Role

• Farmers brought their barley to the temple Farmers brought their barley to the temple stores. A record was kept of how much barley stores. A record was kept of how much barley was received. When some of the barley was was received. When some of the barley was given to temple workers this was also given to temple workers this was also recorded on a tablet. recorded on a tablet.

• The barley sign usually had a number next to The barley sign usually had a number next to it to show how much barley was given to the it to show how much barley was given to the temple or taken away.temple or taken away.

How Signs ChangedHow Signs Changed

• Although the signs had changed over Although the signs had changed over centuries there were more changes to come. centuries there were more changes to come. Nobody can explain why the changes Nobody can explain why the changes happened. happened.

• The most ancient tablets have signs drawn in The most ancient tablets have signs drawn in boxes. Later, the signs were written in rows, boxes. Later, the signs were written in rows, arranged in the order in which they were arranged in the order in which they were read.read.

How Signs ChangedHow Signs Changed

• Another change was that the tablets were Another change was that the tablets were written so that all of the signs appeared to be written so that all of the signs appeared to be lying on their side. The barley sign looked like lying on their side. The barley sign looked like thisthis

How Signs ChangedHow Signs Changed

• The barley sign was used for over three The barley sign was used for over three thousand years. The way that it looked and thousand years. The way that it looked and the way that it was used changed in many the way that it was used changed in many ways. ways.

• One of the last ever appearances of the barley One of the last ever appearances of the barley sign is from A.D. 61. sign is from A.D. 61.

How Signs ChangedHow Signs Changed

• Not only the shape, but also the use of the Not only the shape, but also the use of the sign had been changing. The barley sign could sign had been changing. The barley sign could now be used in two ways.now be used in two ways.

• It could also be used to represent a sound. It could also be used to represent a sound. The Sumerian word for barley was 'she'. So The Sumerian word for barley was 'she'. So the barley sign was used to represent the the barley sign was used to represent the sound 'she' in a word.sound 'she' in a word.

3100 2800 2400 600

Barley

Head

Bird

Ox

Tree

Questions:Questions:

1.1. What was early writing based on?What was early writing based on?2.2. Where was Cuneiform invented?Where was Cuneiform invented?3.3. Cuneiform script was used for what?Cuneiform script was used for what?4.4. What was one of the most important crops in What was one of the most important crops in

Southern Mesopotamia?Southern Mesopotamia?5.5. What items were used by scribes to record What items were used by scribes to record

information?information?6.6. How did signs and tools change over the How did signs and tools change over the

years?years?

Answers:Answers:1.1. Pictograms-(Slide 2)Pictograms-(Slide 2)2.2. Southern Mesopotamia-(Slide 2)Southern Mesopotamia-(Slide 2)3.3. Record information such as temple activities, Record information such as temple activities,

business and trade. Cuneiform was also used to write business and trade. Cuneiform was also used to write stories, myths, and personal letters. (Slide 3)stories, myths, and personal letters. (Slide 3)

4.4. Barley-(Slide 4)Barley-(Slide 4)5.5. soft clay tablets using a pointed tool, probably made soft clay tablets using a pointed tool, probably made

out of a reed. Later a squared tool was used instead out of a reed. Later a squared tool was used instead of a pointed tool. (Slide 5 and 6)of a pointed tool. (Slide 5 and 6)

6.6. Instead of signs in boxes they were drawn in rows, Instead of signs in boxes they were drawn in rows, shapes of signs changed and signs could mean more shapes of signs changed and signs could mean more than one thing. (Slide 8-11)than one thing. (Slide 8-11)