What was the purpose of most Sumerian writing?
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.
What is the writing system of Sumerians?
The writing system takes the name cuneiform from the shape of the strokes that form the symbols (from Latin cuneus, “wedge”). The next major stage in the evolution of Sumerian writing was the adoption of the phonographic principle, the use of a sign to represent a common sound rather than a common meaning.
What was the purpose of cuneiform writing?
Cuneiform writing was used to record a variety of information such as temple activities, business and trade. Cuneiform was also used to write stories, myths, and personal letters. The latest known example of cuneiform is an astronomical text from C.E. 75.
What was the importance of writing in Mesopotamia?
Over five thousand years ago, people living in Mesopotamia developed a form of writing to record and communicate different types of information. The earliest writing was based on pictograms. Pictograms were used to communicate basic information about crops and taxes.