Which ancient civilization pioneered the first known systematic retail analytics system using standardized recording methods to track consumer purchasing patterns and marketplace trends?

Before modern retail analytics, ancient civilizations developed sophisticated methods to track commerce and consumer behavior. From Mesopotamian clay tablets recording inventory to Roman market inspectors monitoring trade, data collection has ancient roots. This poll explores how early civilizations used 'analytics' to understand their marketplaces and consumer trends, revealing that today's retail data practices have surprisingly deep historical foundations.

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Ancient Egypt, with their hieroglyphic 'nilometers' that correlated flood levels with projected harvest yields and anticipated market demands
Mesopotamia, with their clay tablet 'qatnu' system that documented individual customer purchases, preferred goods, and seasonal buying patterns
Ancient Rome, with their 'tabula accepti et expensi' ledgers that tracked regional consumer preferences and spending habits across the empire
Ancient China, with their 'shiji' market records that analyzed buying trends among different social classes during the Han Dynasty