Monday, February 13, 2012

Cuneiform and the Sumerians | 3,000 BC

The Sumerians were one of the earliest types of this kind of civilization? What does that mean?
The Sumerians were one of the earliest nomadic civilizations who migrated to Sumer, which is now known as southern Iraq. Because they are nomadic, it means that they constantly moved places.
Why is the region of Sumer considered the Cradle of Civilization?
It is where cuneiform, the world's first written language, was created.
What could the Sumerians practice year round because of the regions climate?
Because of the regions climate, the Sumerians were able to practice year round agriculture.
Post an example of early Cuneiform (Sumerian pictograph).
Why was Cuneiform created?
Cuneiform was created to help keep track of the business transactions.
What medium was used to "write" Cuneiform? Explain the process of preparing and writing on this surface?
The Sumerians chose to write on clay tablets. They would wet the clay, then form it into flat surfaces. They would use a wedge shaped stylus made from reeds to make impressions into the clay surface. Then, they would lay the clay tablets in the sun allowing them to dry and harden, creating a permanant record of the transaction.
What did Cuneiform begin as a series of? 
Cuneiform began as a series of pictographs, a pictorial or representation of an object.
Post an example of evolved Cuneiform (wedge-shaped).
After it evolved over time, what shape did the characters of Cuneiform evolve into?

The pictographs became more abstract and the number of characters continued to grow,so cuneiform evolved into a wedge shaped language.
Post an example of Akkadian Cuneiform.
After the Akkadians conquered, what happened to the Sumerian culture and written language?

The Akkadians adopted the Sumerian culture and their written language
What is a pictograph?
A pictorial or visual representation of an object
Why did the creation of Cuneiform allow the Sumerians to become a sophisticated culture?

It was a new form of communication, so it allowed Sumerians to become a sophisticated culture

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