Final answer:
The Sumerians, in southern Mesopotamia, were responsible for the earliest known writing system called cuneiform, which evolved from pictographs to wedged-shaped symbols. Cuneiform was used to record the Sumerian language and later other languages in the region. It eventually spread to other areas but was replaced by alphabetic scripts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The earliest known writing system originated in southern Mesopotamia around 3400 BC and is attributed to the Sumerians. This system, known as cuneiform, initially used pictographs that transformed into a wedge-shaped script.
Cuneiform was used to record the Sumerian language and later adapted to write Akkadian and other languages in the region. It spread to various areas, including Egypt, but eventually gave way to alphabetic scripts. The earliest use of written language can be attributed to the Sumerians.