What was the original purpose of cuneiform?

The original purpose of cuneiform was record-keeping. It was developed by the ancient Sumerians in Mesopotamia around 3500 BCE, and initially served as a way to track economic transactions, such as the amount of grain received or livestock traded.

Here's a breakdown of how it evolved:

* Early Cuneiform (3500-3000 BCE): This stage used pictographs (simple drawings representing objects) to depict things like jars, sheep, and other goods.

* Later Cuneiform (3000-2000 BCE): The system became more abstract, with pictographs evolving into stylized symbols that could represent sounds and syllables. This made it easier to write down abstract concepts and ideas.

The use of cuneiform went beyond just record-keeping:

* Administrative purposes: Keeping track of taxes, salaries, and other government affairs.

* Literary works: Writing down stories, myths, poems, and even legal codes.

* Scientific and astronomical observations: Recording observations of the planets and stars.

While cuneiform started as a practical tool for keeping track of goods and services, it eventually became a versatile system used for a wide range of purposes, contributing significantly to the development of ancient Mesopotamian civilization.