Exam 8: States and Empires in Asia and Africa

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Denise Schmandt-Besserat's model for the beginnings of writing in Mesopotamia is based on her extensive research into the origins of writing and the development of early writing systems. According to her model, writing in Mesopotamia began as a system of accounting and record-keeping using tokens, small clay objects that represented goods or quantities of goods. These tokens were used in trade and administrative activities, and were stored in clay envelopes.

Over time, Schmandt-Besserat argues that the tokens were impressed onto the surface of the clay envelopes, creating a visual record of the tokens' meaning. This eventually led to the development of pictographic symbols representing the tokens, and later, the development of a more abstract writing system using wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets, known as cuneiform.

Schmandt-Besserat's model has been influential in shaping our understanding of the origins of writing in Mesopotamia. By emphasizing the connection between the tokens and the development of writing, she has provided a compelling explanation for the transition from a preliterate society to a literate one. However, her model has also been subject to criticism, particularly regarding the extent to which the tokens directly influenced the development of writing. Some scholars argue that the relationship between the tokens and writing may not have been as direct as Schmandt-Besserat suggests, and that other factors may have played a role in the development of writing in Mesopotamia.

Overall, Schmandt-Besserat's model provides a valuable framework for understanding the early development of writing in Mesopotamia, but it is important to consider alternative perspectives and continue to investigate the complex origins of writing in this region.