Cuneiform: The Dawn of Writing
Explore the origins and significance of Cuneiform, the world's first writing system, developed by the ancient Sumerians.
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Cuneiform: The Dawn of Writing
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Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your knowledge. Refer to your notes or textbook if needed.
1. Which ancient civilization is credited with developing Cuneiform?
Egyptians
Sumerians
Romans
Greeks
2. On what material was Cuneiform primarily written?
Papyrus
Stone tablets
Clay tablets
Wood
3. The word "Cuneiform" means " " because of the wedge-shaped marks used in the writing.
4. Cuneiform was initially developed for purposes, such as recording harvests and trade.
5. Cuneiform was a pictographic writing system throughout its entire history.
True
False
6. The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the earliest surviving works of literature, was written in Cuneiform.
True
False
7. Briefly describe the evolution of Cuneiform from its earliest forms to its later phonetic developments.
8. What was the primary tool used to write Cuneiform, and how did it affect the appearance of the script?
Examine the image of the Cuneiform tablet below and answer the question.
9. Based on its appearance, what challenges might modern scholars face when trying to decipher ancient Cuneiform tablets?