The Sumerians and Egyptians began using characters to write, which within a thousand years would lead to cuneiform and hieroglyphics, respectively. The Sumerians appear to have been the first, followed by the Egyptians and the Chinese. The Sumerians used a base-6 system, which is still the basis of our 24-hour clock and the 360 degrees of a circle. The first surviving written message (somewhat disappointingly) reads: “29,086 measures of barley 37 months Kushim,” which likely translates to “Received 29,086 measures of barley over a period of 37 months. Signed Kushim.” Other equally ancient writings are simply lists of identical words repeated dozens of times, probably by apprentice students.
