Ancient Mesopotamia Research Report

Jason Zhang 11/19/09

In Ancient Mesopotamia, I am currently researching about the writing system that the people of Mesopotamia used. I will talk about three topics which are pictographs and cuneiform, scribes, and the materials to write.

The people living in Mesopotamia developed a form of writing to record and communicate with different types of information. The people living in southern

Mesopotamia created one of the earliest writing systems in the world. They developed it so information could be recorded. The earliest forms of writing were based on pictographs. Pictographs were used to communicate basic information about crops and taxes. I think learning to write helps everyone. Instead of remembering how many crops are grown each year, they can write it down using pictographs. Soon, pictographs changed into a script called cuneiform. By 3100 B.C., people began to record amounts of different crops, such as barley. They also measured capacity using containers. The most common container size is a “gur,” which is 300 liters. The most ancient tablets have signs drawn in boxes. Later on, they arranged the signs into rows, which helped reading. I think if they didn’t organize the signs into rows, which would mean our books today could have been hard on the eyesight. Everything could be mixed up like spaghetti with meatballs if writing was not organized. The tablets were written so that all of the signs appeared to be lying on their side. Cuneiform writing used to record a variety of information such as temple activities, business, and trade. Cuneiform was also used for stories, myths, and personal letters. That is how cuneiform and pictographs helped people.

Mesopotamia scribes record daily events, trade, astronomy, and literature on a clay tablet. Scribes drew a sign on a clay tablet using a pointed tool, made out of reed. Scribes started to use the writing tool with a squared-off end. This was used to form wedged shapes, which is called cuneiform. Without scribes, letters could not have been read or written, royal monuments would not have been carved with cuneiform, and stories would have been forgotten. They allowed news and ideas to be carried to distant places. The reed stylus was the main tool used by Mesopotamia scribes. The scribes sometimes wrote on writing boards. It is very important for scribes to understand number systems. Being a scribe looks like hard work, and you have to be gifted and smart to be like one.

Cylinder seals had scenes of gods, animals and men carved into the seal so when rolled on clay, it left an impression. Other seals were used, such as stamp seals that are used to stamp damp clay of a tablet. Some people used their fingernail to sign the tablet. Prisms of clay covered with cuneiform inscriptions describing successful royal military campaigns. Round tablets were school text that was sometimes used for a copying exercise. Clay cylinders were often under walls of new buildings. The other purpose for clay cylinders was to record military successes. Rectangular clay tablets were used to record administrative information, personal letters, and contracts. Bricks were used for the name of king in cuneiform. Those bricks were used to build temples and palaces. Wall reliefs were used for king’s titles, military successes, and religious activities. Some clay tablets were sealed in clay envelopes because of security and the message having important information.

I have learned about scribes, the writing tools, and the writing system. Pictographs and cuneiform helped everyone in the world. Scribes were people who wrote and played an important role in history. Many writing tools were cylinder seals, stamp seals, and tablets. I hope you learned more about Ancient Mesopotamia.