1.5. The System of Writing

The sound that a cuneiform sign represented was not a single consonant or vowel (such as m or a in the English alphabet), but syllables (say,-put-,or-la-,or-in-). Thus, the signs that a Mesopotamian scribe had to learn ran into hundreds, and he had to be able to handle a wet tablet and get it written before it dried. So, writing was a skilled craft but, more important, it was an enormous intellectual achievement, conveying in visual form the system of sounds of a particular language.

Cuneiform writing was complex, as each sign represented whole syllables rather than individual sounds. This means a scribe had to memorize hundreds of symbols and be adept at writing quickly on clay tablets before they dried. This process was not just about mechanics; it required deep understanding and creativity, forcing scribes to translate spoken language into written form visually.

Think of cuneiform like learning to play a musical instrument. Just as a musician needs to remember many notes and how to play them together to create music, a scribe needed to remember multiple symbols and their meanings to write effectively. Both require practice and skill to achieve proficiency.

Very few Mesopotamians could read and write. Not only were there hundreds of signs to learn, many of these were complex. If a king could read, he made sure that this was recorded in one of his boastful inscriptions! For the most part, however, writing reflected the mode of speaking.

Reading and writing were not common skills among the general population in Mesopotamia. The writing system was intricate, and those who could master it, like kings, often boasted about this ability. Most people relied on oral communication, and written records served specific administrative and ceremonial purposes. This limited literacy presented a social stratification within societies, creating a divide between those who could and could not access written knowledge.

Imagine a small town where only a few people, like the mayor or the schoolteacher, know how to read the town’s laws and documents. The rest of the townspeople depend on these individuals to explain important information verbally. This creates a reliance on a few literate members for guidance and information, similar to how Mesopotamian society relied on a small educated elite.

The connection between city life, trade, and writing is brought out in a long Sumerian epic poem about Enmerkar, one of the earliest rulers of Uruk. In Mesopotamian tradition, Uruk was the city par excellence, often known simply as The City.

Writing served multiple societal functions, particularly in trade and governance. The poem about Enmerkar illustrates how writing was crucial in orchestrating trade expeditions and communicating across distances. City life in Mesopotamia was interwoven with trade, necessitating a reliable means of record-keeping and communication, thus emphasizing the role of writing in administrative efficiency and cultural expression.

Think of writing in relation to modern business. Just as companies keep detailed records of transactions, agreements, and communications to function effectively, Mesopotamian city-states relied on writing for trade deals and official matters. This allowed them to flourish and grow in a competitive environment, much like how a well-organized company thrives in the marketplace.

None of these momentous Mesopotamian achievements would have been possible without writing and the urban institution of schools, where students read and copied earlier written tablets, and where some boys were trained to become not record keepers for the administration but intellectuals who could build on the work of their predecessors.

Writing laid the groundwork for advanced scholarship, facilitating the transmission of knowledge across generations. Schools in ancient Mesopotamia were essential in developing literate individuals who would continue to refine and expand existing knowledge, laying the foundations for various fields, including mathematics and astronomy. This cycle of learning and innovation contributed to the lasting legacy of Mesopotamian civilization on contemporary education and scholarly practices.

Consider how universities today preserve and build upon knowledge through research and education. Just as students learn from previous scholars to create new understanding, Mesopotamian schools taught writing and reading to foster a culture of learning and intellectual growth that influenced many future civilizations.

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