Is cuneiform the first written language?

Yes. Cuneiform predates any other written language including Egyptian hieroglyphics or Chinese script. It is possible that the script of the Indus Valley Civilization predates cuneiform but that has not been deciphered.

What does cuneiform mean?

The word cuneiform comes from the Latin "cuneus", meaning "wedge", and was coined in reference to the wedge-like shapes of the characters of the writing system.

When was cuneiform first deciphered?

Cuneiform was first deciphered c. 1823.

Why is cuneiform important?

Cuneiform is important because it opened up ancient Mesopotamian history for the modern age in the same way the decipherment of Egyptian hieroglyphics revealed the history of Egypt. Prior to the decipherment of cuneiform, the history of the world was understood quite differently.

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Article:	Cuneiform
Author:	Joshua J. Mark
Narrator:	Nitin Sil

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Nitin Sil

You only have to be around me for a minute before you can figure out I'm a fan of history. It was only a natural extension to begin podcasting about it. This website for me is all about finding kindred souls who enjoy what history has to offer.

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Joshua J. Mark

A freelance writer and former part-time Professor of Philosophy at Marist College, New York, Joshua J. Mark has lived in Greece and Germany and traveled through Egypt. He has taught history, writing, literature, and philosophy at the college level.

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