The ancient civilization credited with creating the first writing system is the Sumerians, who lived in Mesopotamia around 3200 BCE. They developed cuneiform, one of the earliest known forms of written expression, which used wedge-shaped marks pressed into clay tablets. Cuneiform was initially used for record-keeping and administrative purposes, but it evolved to encompass literature, laws, and scientific texts. The invention of writing was a significant milestone in human history, facilitating communication, cultural transmission, and the development of complex societies.