An ancient invention

1. Introduction

2. The Story of Writing

3. Learning About Writing: What is it? How is it used? Why was it invented?

4. Cuneiform

5. The Signs

6. Changing Mesopotamians’ Lives

7. Changing Our Lives

8. Q&A: Questions & Answers

9. Resources

Over five thousand years ago, the

Mesopotamians invented a form of writing

to record and communicate different types

of information. Because of them, we

developed our own way to write.

People from southern Mesopotamia developed one of

the earliest forms of writing.

The first kind of writing was called pictograms,

which were used to announce basic info due to crops

and taxes.

This form of writing began with pictures or signs drawn on clay tablets using reed styli.

Later on, the signs evolved into cuneiform. This is because the signs were too complicated.

A way to record and communicate information.

Track amount of crops they receive and sell

Letters, stories, myths and more!

Sumerians believed in education and recording was very important to them.

They invented writing so their sons could learn how to read and write.

written language invented in Southern Mesopotamia

used to record a cast of information such as temple activities, business and trade

used to jot down stories, myths, and personal letters

wedge-shaped symbols now called ‘cuneiform’

Back then they used signs instead of letters. The signs used in Mesopotamia are:

Barley Head Bird Ox Tree

After many centuries, the signs changed, and most

of them were wedged shaped symbols:

Cuneiform.

Palm

How did writing change Mesopotamians’

lives?

Recording information, so they could remember, similar to a journal.

Help communicate with their friends, like a letter.

Write stories, myths and personal letters.

So, these are the reasons that writing helps the Mesopotamians.

Now you see how it changed the Mesopotamians’ lives, do you wonder how writing changed ours? Gave us a idea to use letters. way of carving on stone gave us the idea to write on paper.

Without writing, knowledge from the past could be lost from generation to generation.

Now you know how writing changed our lives.

1. Where was writing invented?

2. How is writing used?

3. What is cuneiform? Where was it invented?

4. Name four signs in Ancient Mesopotamia.

www.mesopotamia.co.uk/writing/home_set.html

www.mesopotamia.co.uk/writing/story/sto_set.html

www.mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/cuneiform.html