quaestio: the invention of writing - mrcaseyhistory · quaestio: _____ the invention of writing ......

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Quaestio:________________________________________________________________________________

The Invention of Writing Directions:Examinetheinfographicandthetextandanswerthequestionsbelow.

1. Whenwascuneiformwritingfirstinvented,andwhydowecallit“cuneiform”?

2. Imagineyouhavenevereventhoughtoftheideaorconceptofwriting.Thereisonlyspokenlanguage.NowlookatthefirststeptheSumerianstooktowardwriting.Ifyouweresending10goatswithamerchanttoaneighboringtown,whymightitbeagoodideatosendhimwithasealedclay“envelope”containing10goattokens?Whatfunctioncouldthatserve?

Chapter 2 Section 1 33

CuneiformSymbol

Meaning Mountain Orchard Fish

SOURCE: Stephen Bertman, Handbook to Life inAncient Mesopotamia

INFOGRAPHIC

The Sumerians sometimes pressed tokens into the surface of a clay enve-lope before placing them within it, perhaps to indicate its contents.

1

Using a stylus, a Sumerianscribe wrote in columnsbeginning at the top leftcorner of the tablet and

working to the right.

Around 8000 B.C., Sumerians began using differently shaped clay tokens to represent various items of exchange, such as sheep, bread, or oil. To recordeconomic transactions, they placed the tokens inside clay envelopes often shaped like balls. Around 3500 B.C., Sumerians began to press the tokens into clay tablets to make signs. They also started marking the clay using a sharp tool called a stylus. Around 3200 B.C., they created a true writing system that included symbols that represented words or syllables.

A scribe listed quantities of various commodities on this clay tablet using both token impressions and a stylus.

2

Scribes wrote cuneiform on both sides of a tablet, which was small enough to hold in one hand.

3Thinking Critically1. Draw Inferences How do you think

the use of clay shaped the writing system the Sumerians developed?

2. Make Comparisons How did cuneiform writing allow Sumerians to communicate more effectively than they could using tokens and clay envelopes?

Sumerians Invent Writing By 3200 B.C., Sumerians had inventedthe earliest known writing. It was later called cuneiform (kyoo NEE uhfawrm), from the Latin word cuneus for “wedge,” because scribes wroteby making wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets. Cuneiform grew out of asystem of pictographs used to record goods brought to temple store-houses. Later, the Sumerians developed symbols to represent more com-plicated thoughts. As their writing evolved, the Sumerians used it torecord not only economic exchanges but also myths, prayers, laws, andbusiness contracts.

Sumerian scribes had to go through years of difficult schooling toacquire their skills. Discipline was strict. Untidy copying or talking inclass could be punished by caning. Students who did well often learnedabout religion, mathematics, and literature as well.

How was Sumerian society structured?

Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark.

Chapter 2 Section 1 33

CuneiformSymbol

Meaning Mountain Orchard Fish

SOURCE: Stephen Bertman, Handbook to Life inAncient Mesopotamia

INFOGRAPHIC

The Sumerians sometimes pressed tokens into the surface of a clay enve-lope before placing them within it, perhaps to indicate its contents.

1

Using a stylus, a Sumerianscribe wrote in columnsbeginning at the top leftcorner of the tablet and

working to the right.

Around 8000 B.C., Sumerians began using differently shaped clay tokens to represent various items of exchange, such as sheep, bread, or oil. To recordeconomic transactions, they placed the tokens inside clay envelopes often shaped like balls. Around 3500 B.C., Sumerians began to press the tokens into clay tablets to make signs. They also started marking the clay using a sharp tool called a stylus. Around 3200 B.C., they created a true writing system that included symbols that represented words or syllables.

A scribe listed quantities of various commodities on this clay tablet using both token impressions and a stylus.

2

Scribes wrote cuneiform on both sides of a tablet, which was small enough to hold in one hand.

3Thinking Critically1. Draw Inferences How do you think

the use of clay shaped the writing system the Sumerians developed?

2. Make Comparisons How did cuneiform writing allow Sumerians to communicate more effectively than they could using tokens and clay envelopes?

Sumerians Invent Writing By 3200 B.C., Sumerians had inventedthe earliest known writing. It was later called cuneiform (kyoo NEE uhfawrm), from the Latin word cuneus for “wedge,” because scribes wroteby making wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets. Cuneiform grew out of asystem of pictographs used to record goods brought to temple store-houses. Later, the Sumerians developed symbols to represent more com-plicated thoughts. As their writing evolved, the Sumerians used it torecord not only economic exchanges but also myths, prayers, laws, andbusiness contracts.

Sumerian scribes had to go through years of difficult schooling toacquire their skills. Discipline was strict. Untidy copying or talking inclass could be punished by caning. Students who did well often learnedabout religion, mathematics, and literature as well.

How was Sumerian society structured?

Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark.

3. Overtime,theSumeriansbeganpressingthetokensontotheoutsideoftheenvelopes,likeastamp,toshowhowmanywereinside.Whydoyouthinktheydidthis,andhowdidthisgetthemclosertowriting?

4. Eventually,tomakethewholeprocessquickerandeasier,theystoppedusingtokensandjustdrewsymbolsinstead,finallycreatingearlycuneiform,whichwouldcontinuetobecomemoreandmorecomplex.HowdidcuneiformallowSumerianstocommunicatemoreeffectivelytheycouldusingtokensandclayenvelopes?

“If you have any sense, be a Scribe!” About6000yearsafterthebirthofagriculture,greatcomplexcivilizationshavedevelopedinrivervalleysaroundtheworld.NoneismorefamoustodaythanAncientEgypt.Theprimarysourcedocumentbelow,knownasthe“PapyrusLansing,”isaletterofadvicefromahigh-levelscribenamedNebmare-nakht,tohissonandapprenticeWenemdiamun,urginghimtolearntheskillsofascribe.Ascribewasapersonwhoknewhowtoreadandwrite,andusuallyworkedforthegovernment.Theirpositionwouldbesimilartolawyers,accountants,orprogrammerstoday.ReadandannotatetheletterandcompletetheHAPPYAnalysisbelow.

[Applyyourselftothis]nobleprofession....Youwillfindituseful....Youwillbeadvancedbyyoursuperiors…Lovewriting,rejectdancing;thenyouwillbecomeaworthyofficial.Donotlongforthemarshlands[outalongtheNile].Turnyourbackonthrow-stick[hunting]andchase.Bydaywritewithyourfingers;recitebynight.Befriendthescroll,thepalette.Itpleasesmorethanwine.Writingforhimwhoknowsitisbetterthanallotherprofessions.Itpleasesmorethanbreadandbeer,morethanclothingandointment.ItisworthmorethananinheritanceinEgypt,thanatombinthewest.Youngfellow,howconceitedyouare!YoudonotlistenwhenIspeak.Yourheartisdenserthanagreatobelisk,ahundredcubitshigh,tencubitsthick…[T]houghIbeatyouwitheverykindofstick,youdonotlisten.IfIknewanotherwayofdoingit,Iwoulddoitforyou,thatyoumightlisten.Youareapersonfitforwriting,thoughyouhavenotyetknownawoman.Yourheartdiscerns,yourfingersareskilled,yourmouthisaptforreciting…Youarebusycomingandgoing,anddonotthinkofwriting.Youresistlisteningtome;youneglectmyteachings…[T]houghIspendthedaytellingyou"Write,"itseemslikeaplaguetoyou.Writingisverypleasant!…Seeforyourselfwithyourowneye.Theoccupationsliebeforeyou.

TheauthorgoesontocriticizeallthedifferentjobsofEgyptthatrequirephysicallabor.Hetalksofthehardshipsofwashingotherpeople'sclothes,beingamerchantorasoldier.Inalltheseoccupationshe

notesthatworkerswilloftenbetiredfromworkingtoohardinthehotsunandwillsmellbad.Thenhefocusesonfarmers…

Letmealsoexpoundtoyouthesituationofthepeasant[farmer],thatothertoughoccupation…Bydayhecutshisfarmingtools;bynight

hetwistsrope.Evenhismiddayhourhespendsonfarmlabor.Heequipshimselftogotothefield[withsomanytools]asifhewereawarrior.Thedriedfieldliesinfrontofhim.Hegoesouttobuyateam[ofoxentouseforplowingthefield]…Comedawn[thenextday],hegoes

to[starthiswork]anddoesnotfind[theteam]initsplace.Hespendsthreedayssearchingfor[them].[Eventually]hefindsthem[dead]intheswamp.Hefindsnoskinonthem;thejackalshavechewedthem…Then,whenhe[returnsto]hisfieldhefinds[hiscropshavefailed].Hespends

timecultivating(plantingnewseeds),andthesnakeis[following]afterhim.It[eatsup]theseedasitiscasttotheground.[Thefarmer]doesnotseea[single]greenblade[ofplantgrowthatall]…Nowthescribe[workingtocollecttaxesforthegovernment]landsontheshore.Hesurveystheharvest[andsays,]"Givegrain."[Thepeasantreplies,]"Thereisnone."[Sothefarmer]isbeatensavagely.Heisbound,thrownintoawell,submergedheaddown[totrytomakehimgiveupgrainheisholdingback]…Whenitisover,thereisnograin[becauseheneverhadanytobeginwith].Ifyouhaveanysense,beascribe.Ifyouhavelearnedaboutthepeasant,youwillnotbeabletobeone.Takenoteofit!....[Asascribe,]youaredressedinfineclothes;youownhorses.Yourboatisontheriver;youaresuppliedwithattendants.Youstrideaboutinspecting.Amansionisbuiltinyourtown[foryou].Youhaveapowerfuloffice,givenyoubytheking.Maleandfemaleslavesarearoundyou.Putthewritingsinyourheart,andyouwillbeprotectedfromallkindsoftoil(hardwork)…

HAPPY Analysis Directions:UsetheHAPPYAnalysisInformationCharttocompletetheblankchartbelow.Then,answerthefurtheranalysisquestionsonthesecondpage.

1. HISTORICALCONTEXT:WhatinformationaboutAncientEgyptiansociety,orrivervalleycivilizationsingeneral,shouldbeunderstoodinordertofullyappreciatethisdocument?WhatnewinformationdoesthisprimarysourcedocumenttellusaboutancientEgyptiansociety?

2. AUDIENCE:Forwhomwasthesourcecreated,andhowmightthisaffectthereliabilityoraccuracyofthesource?

3. PURPOSE:Whywasthistextproducedatthetimeitwasproduced?Whatwastheauthor’sgoalinproducingthedocument?

4. POINTOFVIEW:Whatistheauthor’spointofview,andhowdoesiteffecthiswriting?Doyouthinkthisauthorisbiased?Why?Explainusingevidenceformthedocument.

a. MISSINGVOICES:Whatotherdocumentswouldbenecessarytoovercomepotentialbiasandgetafullerpicture?Whosevoicesarenotbeingrepresentedinthedocument?Whatdoyouthinktheymight

5. WHY:Whyisthisdocumentworthstudying?Whatdoesitrevealtous?Whatgenerallessons,realizations,orconnectionstootherperiods(eventoday)cancomefromreadingthisdocument?

6. QUAESTIO:Howdidthedevelopmentofcivilizationleadtovariousformsofinequality?Giveexamplesfrombothtoday’slessonandfrompriorknowledgefromthetextbook.