Download Jason Zhang 11/19/09

Jason Zhang
11/19/09
Ancient Mesopotamia Research Report
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.