Bookmark and Share



























Open the online Arabic language course






Sumer. Around 3500-2000 BCESumer. Around 3500-2000 BCE; Akkad. Ca. 2330-ca. 2220 BCESumer. Around 3500-2000 BCEAssyria. Ca. 1850-1760 BCEAssyria. Ca. 1850-1760 BCE; Babylonia. 1792-1595 BCEBabylonia. 1792-1595 BCEAssyria. Ca. 1350-610's BCEAssyria. Ca. 1350-610's BCE; Babylonia. 1120-539 BCEBabylonia. 1120-539 BCE


Ancient World / Mesopotamia /
Languages



Mesopotamian languages


From before 3100-2000 BCEDominant from before 3100-2000 BCE, 2000-330's written language only2000-330's written language only


Sumerian


Dominant from before 3100-2000 BCE, 2000-330's written language only9th-7th centuries BCEDominant from before 3100-2000 BCE, 2000-330's written language only6th-1st centuries BCE


Akkadian


Ca. 2000-1600 BCE


Amorite





Kassite


Beginning 19th century-around 1000 BCE


Aramaic

Through the classical period of Mesopotamia the main spoken languages were Sumerian and Akkadian, as well as Amorite.
Foreign languages were also in use, due to trade, migrations and conquests of land, including in particular Eblaite, Elamite and Phoenician.
Early on, a script was developed, the cuneiform, using signs made by wedges, on clay tablets. This writing system became also used for other language.





Confused? Try to find a good place to start learning about Mesopotamia in
Where to begin?Detailed article



By Tore Kjeilen