Which of the following is NOT traditionally credited as a Mesopotamian innovation?

• A. Cuneiform Writing
• B. The Wheel
• C. Decimal Numeral System
• D. Early Irrigation

Answer: (C)

This question tests your understanding of which innovations originated in Mesopotamia. Cuneiform writing was developed by the Sumerians to keep records, laws, and literature, laying the foundation for administration and culture. The wheel arose in Mesopotamia and revolutionized transport and pottery, boosting trade and movement across the region. Early irrigation systems—canals, dikes, and controlled water management—enabled farming in a river basin with varying rainfall, supporting larger populations.

The decimal numeral system, with ten digits and positional value, did not originate in Mesopotamia. Mesopotamian mathematics used a sexagesimal (base-60) system for counting and calculations, including fractions and timekeeping, but not decimal base-10 notation. The decimal system developed later, in India, and spread through the Islamic world to Europe. So the numeral system in question is not traditionally credited to Mesopotamia.