Ancient Writing Systems of Mesopotamia

Where were some of the earliest writing systems formed?

• Ancient Greece

• The Indus Valley
• Ancient Mesopotamia

• Ancient Egypt

The first writing system the Sumerians created was made of pictograms. How does the text describe this writing system?

• a system made of thousands of symbols that had to be sculpted out of clay

• a system made of an alphabet with many letters that stood for different sounds

• a system made of many different tools, such as a grass tool with a wedge-shape at its tip

• a system made of hundreds of drawings that represented a word or idea

The cuneiform system made it easier for people from different civilizations to communicate with each other. What evidence from the text best supports this conclusion?

• “Scribes spent years memorizing the symbols and what they represented. They also learned how to combine these symbols to create different words and meanings. A symbol that represented a sound could be combined with another sound symbol to create a new word.”

• “Over time, many other civilizations started using [cuneiform]. The cuneiform system became the most widespread writing system in Mesopotamia. Using cuneiform signs allowed people to share ideas and develop large trade networks.”

• “These writing systems used alphabets instead. Today, researchers study cuneiform and pictograms from thousands of years ago. Through these writing systems, they learn more about the cultures of the people who lived in ancient Mesopotamia.”

• “In ancient times, civilizations formed in different parts of the world. As these societies grew, people needed a way to keep records of the things they traded. They wanted to write letters to each other, and they also wanted to preserve their stories.”

Based on the text, why might researchers study cuneiform and pictograms of ancient Mesopotamia?

• Researchers study these writing systems to learn more about the daily lives and culture of people living in Kuwait today.

• Researchers study cuneiform and pictograms to learn more about the many types of grass that grew in ancient Mesopotamia.

• Researchers can learn about what was important to people during this period by studying what they recorded.

• Researchers can learn why scribes were not important people in Mesopotamia by studying these writing systems.

What is the main idea of this text?

• Sumerian scribes spent many years memorizing cuneiform signs so they could record important information for people and communities in ancient Mesopotamia.

• Once cuneiform signs were used less and less in Mesopotamia, writing systems that used alphabets developed throughout this area.

• Pictograms were drawings where each picture represented a word or idea and Sumerians created hundreds of these symbols.

• Ancient Sumerians developed different writing systems as their civilization changed and grew, which allowed people to communicate, share ideas, and create large trade networks.