What was the Babylonian writing system and how did it influence other cultures?

The Babylonians developed one of the earliest known writing systems, known as cuneiform. This system involved the use of a reed stylus to make wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets. Cuneiform was used for a variety of purposes, including recording economic transactions, legal documents, religious texts, and literature.

The Babylonian writing system was highly influential and had a significant impact on other cultures. The use of cuneiform spread throughout the ancient Near East, and it was adapted by various cultures, including the Assyrians, Elamites, Hittites, and Persians. The Akkadian language, which was written in cuneiform, became the lingua franca of the region, and it was used for diplomatic communications and international trade.

Cuneiform also had an impact on the development of other writing systems. The Phoenician alphabet, which was developed in the second millennium BCE, was based on cuneiform, and the Greeks borrowed some of the characters from the Phoenician alphabet to develop their own writing system.