The Sumerian civilization is often regarded as the first major civilization in world history. Emerging around 4500 B.C. in the Mesopotamian region, particularly in what is now southern Iraq, Sumer is known for its innovations in various fields, including writing, urbanization, mathematics, and governance. The Sumerians developed cuneiform, one of the earliest known writing systems, and established city-states such as Ur, Uruk, and Eridu, each with complex social, political, and economic structures. Their advancements laid foundational stones for subsequent civilizations and significantly influenced art, literature, and architecture in the ancient world, shaping human history profoundly.