Sumerians develop world's first writing system in ancient Uruk

The Sumerians, around 3000 BC, developed the world's first writing system in Uruk, a major city in southern Iraq. This innovation arose from the need to manage trade and resources in a complex urban society, marking a significant shift from oral traditions to recorded history. Initially, Sumerian writing used clay tokens and bullae to represent goods. Over time, this evolved into pictographs inscribed on clay tablets, which later transformed into a more abstract script known as cuneiform, allowing for greater expression and record-keeping. As Sumerian civilization interacted with neighboring Akkadians, the writing system adapted to accommodate different languages. This evolution from ideographic to phonetic writing expanded communication and laid the foundation for future civilizations across the region.