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.

Cuneiform Timeline

Definition

Cuneiform is a system of writing first developed by the ancient Sumerians of Mesopotamia c. 3500 BCE. It is considered the most significant among the many cultural contributions of the Sumerians and the greatest among those of the Sumerian city of Uruk, which advanced the writing of cuneiform c. 3200 BCE and allowed for the creation of literature.

More about: Cuneiform

Timeline

c. 3500 BCE
First written evidence of religion in the world recorded on Sumerian tablets.
c. 3500 BCE
Cuneiform script developed by Sumerians.
c. 3200 BCE
Cuneiform script further developed and advanced in the city of Uruk.
3000 BCE
Cuneiform script refined.
2900 BCE - 2334 BCE
Cuneiform script develops fully during the Early Dynastic Period of Mesopotamia.
2285 BCE - 2250 BCE
Life of Enheduanna, daughter of Sargon of Akkad, and world's first author known by name.
c. 2150 BCE - c. 1400 BCE
The tales of Gilgamesh written which inform The Epic of Gilgamesh
c. 1900 BCE - c. 1600 BCE
Composition of The Descent of Inanna.
c. 1640 BCE - c. 1700 BCE
Written form of the Atrahasis Myth of the Great Flood.
c. 647 BCE - c. 629 BCE
Extensive collection of clay tablets acquired known as Ashurbanipal's Library at Nineveh.
c. 100 BCE
Cuneiform abandoned for alphabetic script.