The ancient civilization often associated with the invention of writing is that of the Sumerians, located in Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq. Around 3200 BCE, they developed cuneiform script, one of the earliest known forms of writing. This innovation allowed for the recording of transactions, laws, literature, and administrative documents. Writing transformed communication in Sumerian society, supporting the rise of complex civilizations by facilitating record-keeping and the dissemination of knowledge, thereby shaping human history.