What writing system was first developed by the Sumerians, marking their entry into written history?

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The writing system developed by the Sumerians that signifies their entry into written history is cuneiform. This ancient script originated around 3200 BCE in Mesopotamia and is recognized as one of the earliest forms of writing. Cuneiform involved the use of a stylus to create wedge-shaped impressions on soft clay tablets, which were then baked or left to dry.

The development of cuneiform was a significant advancement because it allowed the Sumerians to document transactions, record laws, and communicate over distances, thus facilitating administration and promoting literacy. This writing system evolved over the centuries and was adapted by numerous other cultures in the region.

Hieroglyphics, logograms, and pictographs represent different writing systems used in various ancient civilizations, such as Egypt and Mesoamerica, but they do not relate to the Sumerians' achievements. Hieroglyphics is specific to Egyptian culture, logograms refer to symbols that represent words or morphemes, and pictographs are symbols that represent objects. However, none of these systems hold the historical significance associated with the establishment of written history by the Sumerians through cuneiform.

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