Final answer:
The Mesopotamians contributed to the evolution of writing by developing cuneiform writing on clay tablets, which evolved from pictographs to a more complex system including syllabic symbols.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Mesopotamians made significant contributions to the evolution of writing, specifically by developing cuneiform writing on clay tablets. This form of writing, which began around 3000 BCE, was one of the very first systems of writing in the world. Initially, it started as a pictographic system, with each word or idea being represented by a symbol, and later evolved to include syllabic symbols as well. The usage of cuneiform expanded from simple record-keeping to encompass various forms of literature, such as laws, religious texts, and property transactions.
The Mesopotamians utilized a reed stylus to inscribe wedge-shaped symbols into wet clay, which would either be dried in the sun or fired to create a permanent record. This complex writing system was a monopoly of scribes and was adaptable enough to be used by subsequent Mesopotamian cultures.