First schools in history.

It is difficult to ascertain a precise beginning point for
formal education. Early humans, who were hunters and gatherers taught the skills of
hunting, etc. to their young, most likely by example. Later, as complex societies
developed with stratified social frameworks, education became more formal. Originally,
all education was oral, such as songs, epic poems, etc. The Vedas
of ancient India is an example.

The development of writing
was a major factor in the development of formal education in a school-like setting. The
best guess is that it originated in ancient Mesopotamia in which the sons of the wealthy
were taught cuneiform. Cuneiform is a complex writing system not easily learned, and the
process itself was not for everyone; only the very rich could afford it. Later, less
complex forms of writing developed, and education became more
widespread.