Ancient era · c. 3,200 BCE

Writing begins in Sumer

Scribes in cities like Uruk press wedge-shaped marks into clay tablets to keep records of grain and goods. Cuneiform is one of the first writing systems, and it marks the start of recorded history.

Archive photo

Clay tablet with cuneiform signs · Wikimedia Commons

When: c. 3,200 BCE
Where: Mesopotamia (Iraq)
Era: Ancient

Topics

Mesopotamiac. 3,500 BCE – 539 BCE

Before and after

Sumerc. 5,500 BCE – 1,900 BCE Upper and Lower Egypt unitec. 3,100 BCE Show on timeline

Sources: Cuneiform

This is the short version. Full stories with chapters, key people and maps are being written for every event.