The civilization credited with the invention of written language is Ancient Sumer, which emerged in Mesopotamia around 3200 BCE. The Sumerians developed cuneiform, a system of writing that utilized wedge-shaped marks made on clay tablets. Initially used for record-keeping and administrative purposes, cuneiform evolved to encompass a wide range of subjects, including literature, law, and trade. This invention allowed for the preservation of knowledge and culture, laying the groundwork for future civilizations to develop complex forms of governance, literature, and science, ultimately influencing the entire course of human history.