The River Valley Civilisation: Mesopotamian Civilisation — Important Questions

Cuneiform

Step 1: The Sumerians of Mesopotamia developed one of the earliest writing systems in the world. Step 2: This system of writing was called Cuneiform. Step 3: The script was wedge-shaped and was written from right to left using a pen called Stylus made of reed or bone. Step 4: Hieroglyphics was the writing system of ancient Egypt, not Mesopotamia. Step 5: Braille is a modern system for visually impaired people, and Sanskrit is an ancient Indian language — neither is Mesopotamian.

Henry Rawlinson

Step 1: The Cuneiform script was the writing system of ancient Mesopotamia. Step 2: For a long time, no one could understand or read this script. Step 3: It was Henry Rawlinson, a British officer, who successfully deciphered (decoded) the Cuneiform script. Step 4: John Prinsep is known for deciphering the Brahmi script of India, not Cuneiform. Step 5: Jean Champollion decoded Egyptian Hieroglyphics, and Howard Carter was the archaeologist who discovered Tutankhamun's tomb in Egypt.

Gilgamesh

Step 1: The Mesopotamians wrote their texts on clay tablets using the Cuneiform script. Step 2: The most famous and popular epic of Mesopotamia was called 'Gilgamesh'. Step 3: It described the tale of a legendary hero named Gilgamesh and is one of the earliest literary works in the world. Step 4: Ramayana and Mahabharata are Indian epics, while Iliad is a Greek epic. Step 5: Therefore, Gilgamesh is the correct answer for Mesopotamian literature.

Hammurabi

Step 1: Babylon was one of the most important cities of Mesopotamia. Step 2: The greatest king of Babylon was Hammurabi, who ruled from 1792–1750 BCE. Step 3: He became famous for his Code of Laws — a set of 282 laws carved on an eight-feet-high stone. Step 4: Nebuchadnezzar II is known for building the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, not the Code of Laws. Step 5: Hammurabi's laws were the first systematic written laws in history, making him the correct answer.