Have you ever wondered who the first known person in history was? You’d be mistaken if you thought it was a monarch, a warrior, or a poet. Kushim, an accountant, had the earliest name in recorded history.
Kushim, who was he?
Kushim lived in Mesopotamia, the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers that is now primarily Iraq, between 3400 and 3000 BCE. Mesopotamia is sometimes referred to as the “cradle of civilization” since it was here that some of the first cities, writing systems, and empires arose.
Kushim was a modest scribe who worked for a temple or a palace, not a monarch or a hero. His name occurs on multiple clay tablets used to record transactions involving barley, ancient Mesopotamia’s major crop and money. Kushim was in charge of barley production and storage, as well as keeping track of how much barley was delivered to various officials and workers.
One of the tablets bearing Kushim’s name is said to be one of the oldest examples of rebus writing, a technique that employs visuals to represent sounds or words. The tablet reads, “29,086 measures barley 37 months Kushim.” The sound “ku” is represented by the image of a fish, and the sound “shim” is represented by the image of a bowl. They create Kushim’s name when combined.
What is the significance of Kushim?
Kushim’s name is significant because it demonstrates that writing was established for utilitarian needs rather than for poetry or history. Writing was used to keep track of things, manage finances, and communicate information. Writing also allowed people to express their uniqueness and identities. Kushim claimed ownership and accountability for his work by signing his name on the tablets.
Kushim’s name is particularly significant because it calls into question our ideas about who creates history. We tend to focus on the names of kings, generals, and prophets, but regular individuals who work hard and contribute to society also make history. Kushim was one of them, and his name should be remembered.
How did we learn about Kushim?
Archaeologists who unearthed and examined Mesopotamian ancient sites have taught us about Kushim. Kushim’s clay tablets were cooked in furnaces or fires, which preserved them for thousands of years. They were unearthed among the ruins of Uruk, one of Mesopotamia’s oldest and greatest cities.
Scholars who learnt to interpret Uruk III’s pictographic script, the earliest form of writing in Mesopotamia, deciphered the tablets. The script later evolved into cuneiform, the wedge-shaped writing system utilized by many ancient Near Eastern cultures.
What else can we say about Kushim?
Sadly, little else is known about Kushim’s life or personality. We don’t know whether he was male or female, young or old, wealthy or impoverished. We have no idea if he had relatives or friends, or what he loved or disliked. We have no idea whether he was happy or unhappy, arrogant or modest, honest or deceptive.
Kushim’s life in Uruk, a bustling metropolis with temples, palaces, markets, workshops, and canals, can only be imagined. We can only assume on Kushim’s thoughts on his work, society, religion, and role in history.
We can only hope Kushim was pleased with both his accomplishment and his name.
Conclusion:
Kushim is the name of the first recorded human in history. He was a Mesopotamian accountant who lived between 3400 and 3000 BCE. His name occurs on multiple clay tablets used to record barley trades. His name is significant because it demonstrates that writing was established for practical purposes and that ordinary people create history. Archaeology and research have taught us about Kushim. We know very nothing else about Kushim’s life or personality.
Kushim is neither famous or glamorous, but he is fascinating and one-of-a-kind. He is a link between ourselves and our forefathers. He serves as a reminder that every name has a story to tell.
He is Kushim, the First Human Recorded in History.
