Tablethouses, archives and libraries in Ancient Mesopotamia

After the Sumerians arrived in Mesopotamia, many historical developments took place. The most important of these developments was the emergence of writing as a systematic record-keeping tool. This type of writing, called cuneiform, led to the emergence of new sectors and professions as well as new institutional formations. The most important of these formations is the emergence and spread throughout Mesopotamia of institutions called "tablethouses", which served both as a place of education and a writing workshop. Through tablethouses, the number of people who could read and write cuneiform increased over time. While scribe candidates received training in tablethouses, they also contributed to the copying and reproduction of existing literature. Archives and later libraries emerged in order to store and protect the increasing number of clay tablets. Archives and libraries have made great contributions to the understanding of Mesopotamian political life and culture today.