Which ancient civilization first used 'tally sticks' with customer markings as an early form of retail data analytics to track purchasing patterns and offer personalized marketplace experiences?

The ancient world wasn't just about conquest and monuments - it was also home to sophisticated commercial systems. Ancient civilizations developed remarkable methods to track trade, analyze customer preferences, and optimize their marketplace offerings. This poll explores how ancient merchants pioneered early forms of retail analytics that would be recognizable to modern product managers and marketers.

This is a live public trivia poll on AIPolls.Net. Vote and see real-time results.

Mesopotamians (3000 BCE), who marked clay tablets with symbols representing frequent customers and their preferred goods
Phoenicians (1200 BCE), who used coded knot patterns on trade ropes to track customer demographics across their Mediterranean trade network
Romans (100 CE), who implemented the 'taberna fidelis' system of loyalty markers for returning customers at urban marketplaces
Ancient Egyptians (2500 BCE), who recorded hieroglyphic purchase histories on papyrus for noble households