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Questions and Answers
What led to the development of counting large quantities around 10,000 years ago?
What led to the development of counting large quantities around 10,000 years ago?
What type of symbols were used to represent various holdings in southern Iraq around 7500 B.C.?
What type of symbols were used to represent various holdings in southern Iraq around 7500 B.C.?
How were marks inscribed on clay tablets?
How were marks inscribed on clay tablets?
What was the significance of the writing system called cuneiform?
What was the significance of the writing system called cuneiform?
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What was the time period over which the ancient accounting system was perfected?
What was the time period over which the ancient accounting system was perfected?
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What did philosophers discover about nature?
What did philosophers discover about nature?
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What was the primary reason for early farmers to develop a counting system?
What was the primary reason for early farmers to develop a counting system?
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What was unique about the symbols used in early counting systems?
What was unique about the symbols used in early counting systems?
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What innovation enabled the development of a new accounting system around 3000 B.C.?
What innovation enabled the development of a new accounting system around 3000 B.C.?
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What is the name of the writing system that was developed in ancient Iraq?
What is the name of the writing system that was developed in ancient Iraq?
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What did philosophers discover about nature?
What did philosophers discover about nature?
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What was a common feature of ancient counting and writing systems?
What was a common feature of ancient counting and writing systems?
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Study Notes
The Origins of Counting
- Counting large quantities began around 10,000 years ago with early farmers who needed to account for communally stored crops.
Early Counting Systems
- In southern Iraq, around 7500 B.C., small tokens shaped like discs, balls, and pyramids were used to represent various holdings.
- These tokens were replaced by marks inscribed on clay tablets using a blunt reed to cut into the wet clay.
Development of Writing and Accounting Systems
- Around 3000 B.C., people began using clay tablets and developed a new accounting system that was perfected over the next 4,000 years.
- The writing system called cuneiform, consisting of wedge-shaped symbols, was also invented during this time.
Independent Development of Numbering and Writing Systems
- Other cultures independently developed numbering and writing systems during this period.
Discovery of Natural Laws
- Philosophers began to discover that nature was subject to laws that could be expressed with numbers.
The Origins of Counting
- Counting large quantities began around 10,000 years ago with early farmers who needed to account for communally stored crops.
Early Counting Systems
- In southern Iraq, around 7500 B.C., small tokens shaped like discs, balls, and pyramids were used to represent various holdings.
- These tokens were replaced by marks inscribed on clay tablets using a blunt reed to cut into the wet clay.
Development of Writing and Accounting Systems
- Around 3000 B.C., people began using clay tablets and developed a new accounting system that was perfected over the next 4,000 years.
- The writing system called cuneiform, consisting of wedge-shaped symbols, was also invented during this time.
Independent Development of Numbering and Writing Systems
- Other cultures independently developed numbering and writing systems during this period.
Discovery of Natural Laws
- Philosophers began to discover that nature was subject to laws that could be expressed with numbers.
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Description
Learn about the origins of counting and the development of accounting systems from ancient civilizations, including the use of tokens and clay tablets.
