The writing styles of the Sumerians, Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians all evolved from the oldest type of writing known to mankind, dating from about 3000 BC. What was it?

The world's first known writing system was developed by the Sumerians in ancient Mesopotamia. Instead of pen and paper, scribes used a reed stylus to press distinctive impressions into wet clay tablets, which were then baked hard. The triangular tip of the stylus created unique wedge-shaped marks. This appearance is how the script got its modern name, which is derived from the Latin word "cuneus," meaning "wedge."

This incredibly influential system was not a language, but rather a script that could be adapted to write many different languages. This flexibility is why it became the foundation (Review) for the writing of subsequent empires. The Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians all adapted the script to write their own Semitic languages. Centuries later, the Persians developed their own simplified version for monumental inscriptions, showing the system's long-lasting legacy.

While it began as a tool for accounting and recording transactions, its use expanded dramatically over time. This wedge-shaped writing was used to codify laws, most famously in the Code of Hammurabi, and to record epic literature like the Epic of Gilgamesh. It remained in use