Which writing system did Mesopotamia develop?

• A. Hieroglyphs
• B. Alphabetic Script
• C. Cuneiform Writing
• D. Pictographic Script

Answer: (C)

Mesopotamia developed a writing system called cuneiform. It began around 3200 BCE in Sumer and was created on clay tablets using a reed stylus, which produced wedge-shaped marks that give the script its name. Initially, scribes used pictographs for recording goods and transactions, but over time the signs evolved to represent sounds and syllables, enabling more complex writing, literature, and administration. This system was later used for multiple languages in the region, such as Akkadian and others.

Cuneiform is distinct from hieroglyphs, which come from Egypt and rely on different symbols and stone or papyrus materials. It isn’t an alphabetic script like Phoenician, which uses a set of letters to represent individual sounds. It’s also more than a simple pictographic script; it blends logographic and syllabic elements and becomes a versatile writing system for a broad range of uses.