* Pictographs: Early Sumerian writing used pictographs, which were simple drawings representing objects or ideas.
* Cuneiform: Over time, these pictographs became more stylized and abstract, eventually evolving into wedge-shaped marks pressed into clay tablets using a stylus. This system, known as cuneiform, was not an alphabet, but a syllabic script.
* Syllabic Script: Cuneiform signs represented syllables (a combination of consonant and vowel), not individual letters. This means a single sign could represent "ba," "bi," "bu," etc.
Key Differences from an Alphabet:
* Alphabet: An alphabet has individual signs for consonants and vowels, allowing for a wide range of combinations to form words.
* Syllabic Script: Syllabic scripts have signs representing syllables, which are much more limited in their ability to represent sounds.
The Evolution of Writing:
The development of Sumerian writing is a fascinating journey, showing a progression from pictographs to cuneiform. This system was highly influential, and its influence spread throughout the ancient Near East. While cuneiform wasn't an alphabet, it laid the foundation for later writing systems, including the Phoenician alphabet, which eventually led to the alphabet we use today.