Which ancient civilization developed cuneiform writing on clay tablets?

• A. Mesopotamians
• B. Egyptians
• C. Greeks
• D. Romans

Answer: (A)

Cuneiform on clay tablets was developed in Mesopotamia by the early Sumerians, making it one of the world’s first writing systems. It was created using a reed stylus to press wedge-shaped signs into soft clay, a practical choice because clay was abundant in that region and clay tablets preserved records well. This writing system spread to later Mesopotamian cultures and became essential for administration, trade, and literature. In contrast, Egyptians relied on hieroglyphs (often on stone or papyrus), while Greeks and Romans used alphabetic scripts derived from Phoenician, not cuneiform. So the Mesopotamians are the ones who developed cuneiform writing on clay tablets.