The civilization known for the creation of the first cities in ancient Mesopotamia is the Sumerians. Emerging around 4000 BCE, the Sumerians established city-states like Ur, Uruk, and Lagash, characterized by advanced urban planning, writing systems (such as cuneiform), and monumental architecture (such as ziggurats). Their innovations in agriculture, trade, and governance laid the foundations for subsequent empires in the region. The Sumerians are credited with many firsts in human civilization, significantly influencing language, law, literature, and technology, thus marking the rise of complex societies.