What invention started the study of history?

The invention of writing, particularly cuneiform in Mesopotamia around 3200 BCE, is often credited with starting the study of history. It allowed for the recording of events, transactions, and cultural practices, enabling societies to document their past. This development facilitated the preservation of knowledge across generations, making it possible for historians to analyze and interpret earlier events. Thus, writing laid the foundation for the systematic study of history as we know it today.