Which ancient civilization is known for creating the first writing system, cuneiform?

The Sumerians are credited with creating cuneiform, which is widely recognized as the world's first writing system. This system originated in ancient Mesopotamia around 3200 BCE. Cuneiform was developed as a means of recording transactions, laws, and stories, marking a significant advancement in communication and administration for the Sumerian civilization. The writing was inscribed on clay tablets using a stylus to create wedge-shaped marks, which is where the term "cuneiform" (from the Latin "cuneus," meaning wedge) comes from.

The impact of this writing system was profound, as it laid the groundwork for the development of subsequent writing systems in various cultures and enabled the recording of history, literature, and legal codes. It facilitated the organization of society by providing a method to document and codify information, a key factor in the evolution of complex societies.

In comparison, while the Egyptians developed hieroglyphics, and the Phoenicians created an alphabet that influenced later writing systems, it was the Sumerians who first introduced writing through cuneiform, which fundamentally altered human communication and record-keeping. The Babylonians, who came after the Sumerians, adapted cuneiform but did not originate it.