Final answer:
Cuneiform is an ancient writing system that originated in Mesopotamia and evolved over time. It was used to record the Sumerian language and later, Akkadian. Cuneiform tablets provide valuable insights into the history and culture of ancient Mesopotamian civilizations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cuneiform is an ancient writing system that originated in Mesopotamia around 3400 BC. It started as a system of pictographs and evolved into a distinctive wedge-shaped script. Cuneiform was used to record the Sumerian language and later, Akkadian. It spread to various regions and languages over a span of two thousand years. Cuneiform tablets provide valuable information about the history, society, economy, and beliefs of ancient Mesopotamian cultures. They contain royal inscriptions, law codes, treaties, literature, as well as everyday records like receipts, contracts, letters, and incantations.