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2900 BCE
2800 BCE
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2900 BCE - 2334 BCE: Scribal schools have been established in Sumer.
2600 BCE: Ancient Mesopotamian literature is first written in Sumer
2600 BCE - 2000 BCE: Instructions of Shuruppag is written.
2334 BCE: Akkadian replaces Sumerian as a living language; scribes begin writing in Akkadian.
2150 BCE - 1400 BCE: Earliest versions of Epic of Gilgamesh are written.
2047 BCE - 1750 BCE: Ur III Period of the Sumerian Renaissance; a rebirth of Sumerian literature and culture.
2029 BCE - 1982 BCE: The Death of Ur-Nammu is written during the reign of Shulgi of Ur.
2000 BCE: Debate Between Sheep and Grain is written.
2000 BCE: Mesopotamian naru literature genre is invented; precursor of modern historical fiction.
1900 BCE - 1600 BCE: Inanna's Descent is written.
1800 BCE: Hymn to Ninkasi, Goddess of Beer is written.
1700 BCE: Ludlul-Bel-Nimeqi ("Poem of the Righteous Sufferer") is written; influences the biblical Book of Job.
1307 BCE - 1282 BCE: Babylonian version of Ludlul-Bel-Nimeqi is written; greatly expands upon the earlier Sumerian piece.
1307 BCE - 1275 BCE: Assyrian literature is written during the reign of Adad Nirari I.
1300 BCE - 1000 BCE: Babylonian standard version of The Epic of Gilgamesh is written.
1200 BCE: Assyrian Tukulti-Ninurta Epic is written.
722 BCE - 705 BCE: Assyrian Epic of Izdubar is written; a revision of the Epic of Gilgamesh.