This clay tablet is covered with cuneiform symbols. The symbols show a list of sheep and goats traded from one person to another.

Transcription

1 Writing: Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt Writing in Mesopotamia This clay tablet is covered with cuneiform symbols. The symbols show a list of sheep and goats traded from one person to another. The Sumerians were the first people to develop a written language. At first, they used pictures called pictographs. The first use of pictures was on small carved seals that were used to make marks in soft clay. What did Sumerians do before they began to use written language? What did Sumerians write on? (Hint: What material) In about 3300 BCE the Sumerians began using symbols instead of pictures. They used a wedge-shaped stylus to press the symbols into flat pieces of clay. This type of writing was called cuneiform. At first, Sumerians used writing to keep records. But by 2800 BCE the Sumerians had also started to write down stories, prayers, history and songs. What is the name of the writing in Ancient Mesopotamia? What did Sumerians use writing for?

2 Notes! Handout #: Writing began in to keep records of. Writing helped people record their own. were used before writing was invented to label goods for trade. Pictographs are symbols or that represent. Cuneiform was It was developed in a place called, which was in Cuneiform was written on with a -shaped stylus. Few people in Mesopotamia knew all of the symbols, so people specialized in. These writing specialists were called Scribes were. was a major form of writing. Hieroglyphics were first used in the early civilization of. They were written on

3 Writing: Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt Homework due: Thursday September 20 th, 2012 Why did people begin writing? Pictographs: What is a pictograph? Cuneiform: 1. What was Cuneiform? 2. Where (in what civilization) was Cuneiform used? 3. How was cuneiform written? What tools were used? What was it written on? Hieroglyphics: 1. What was Hieroglyphics? 2. Where (in what civilization) was Hieroglyphics used? 3. What were Hieroglyphics written on?

4 Which civilization used the writing above? What was this writing written on? What did people use to write this? Which civilization used the writing above? What was this writing written on? Which was the first form of writing: cuneiform or hieroglyphics? Where was the first writing created? What language was written in the Egyptian tombs?

5 Exit Ticket: Writing in Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt 1. Where was the first writing created? a. Nashville, TN b. Sumer, Mesopotamia c. Ancient Egypt d. In a cold wet cave 2. Hieroglyphics was the form of writing in: a. Rome b. China c. Mesopotamia d. Egypt The original Mesopotamian writing system first came from a system of clay tokens used to counting agricultural goods. By the end of the 4th century BC, this had transformed into a method of keeping accounts, using imprints of a wedge-shaped tool. At first, it was used only for numbers, then finally for a general writing system. Which of these is described by the passage above? A. Roman script B. hieroglyphics C. cuneiform D. oral tradition Exit Ticket: Writing in Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt 3. Where was the first writing created? e. Nashville, TN f. Sumer, Mesopotamia g. Ancient Egypt h. In a cold wet cave 4. Hieroglyphics was the form of writing in: e. Rome f. China g. Mesopotamia h. Egypt The original Mesopotamian writing system first came from a system of clay tokens used to counting agricultural goods. By the end of the 4th century BC, this had transformed into a method of keeping accounts, using imprints of a wedge-shaped tool. At first, it was used only for numbers, then finally for a general writing system. Which of these is described by the passage above? A. Roman script B. hieroglyphics C. cuneiform D. oral tradition

6 Write a message using cuneiform. Handout #: