What was the first Civilzation?

The first civilization is often considered to be Sumer, which emerged around 3500 BCE in the region of Mesopotamia, present-day southern Iraq. Sumerians developed advanced urban centers, such as Ur and Uruk, and are credited with innovations like writing (cuneiform), the wheel, and complex irrigation systems. Their society was characterized by a theocratic government, social stratification, and significant advancements in agriculture and trade, laying the groundwork for future civilizations.