Cuneiform
Mesopotamia · California History–Social Science 6.2
Cuneiform is one of the oldest writing systems in the world. The Sumerians of Mesopotamia invented it more than 5,000 years ago. The name means "wedge-shaped." Scribes pressed a sharpened reed, called a stylus, into wet clay to make small wedge-shaped marks. When the clay dried, the writing lasted, and many tablets survive today. At first, cuneiform was used to keep records, like how much grain a farmer owed or how many animals were traded. Over time, people used it to write letters, laws, prayers and stories, including the Epic of Gilgamesh. Learning cuneiform took years, so scribes were important people. It was used for about 3,000 years and was adapted for several different languages.
Key facts
- Cuneiform was invented by the Sumerians more than 5,000 years ago.
- Scribes pressed a reed stylus into wet clay to make wedge-shaped marks.
- It was first used for keeping records, then for laws, letters and stories.
In the game
- Capital cost (CC)
- 1
- Influence Points (IP)
- 1
- Type
- Cultural
Writing. At Once: +1 IP to all of your Prehistory cards in play.
How to earn it: A farmer gives students Cuneiform after their first battle against Gilgamesh. Students who beat Gilgamesh on the first try get it when they win.
