The ancient civilization responsible for the creation of cuneiform writing is the Sumerians. Emerging around 3100 BC in Mesopotamia, cuneiform is one of the earliest known writing systems. Initially developed for record-keeping, it involved pressing a reed stylus into soft clay to create wedge-shaped symbols. Cuneiform evolved to represent sounds and ideas, facilitating communication, administration, and the documentation of economic transactions, literature, and legal codes. This innovation greatly advanced human civilization by enabling the recording of history, culture, and governance, laying the groundwork for future writing systems.