Here's a breakdown of what cuneiform is:
* Writing System: Cuneiform is a syllabic writing system, meaning each symbol represents a syllable (a combination of consonant and vowel).
* Materials: It was primarily written on clay tablets, which were dried in the sun or fired in kilns.
* Tools: A stylus (a small, pointed tool) was used to create the wedge-shaped marks.
* Languages: Cuneiform was used to write several languages, including Akkadian, Sumerian, Elamite, and Hittite.
* Purpose: Cuneiform served a wide range of purposes, including:
* Record keeping: Accounting, trade, and legal transactions.
* Literature: Epic poems, myths, and religious texts.
* Scientific and Astronomical Observations: Calendars, mathematical calculations, and astronomical records.
Cuneiform played a pivotal role in the development of civilization in Mesopotamia, enabling the recording of history, laws, literature, and scientific knowledge. Its invention is considered a major milestone in human history.