Is this excerpt a flash-back or flashforward?

The greatest gift the sumerians gave the world was the invention of writing. the sumerians were wealthy people. they needed some way to keep track of what they owned. they began drawing pictures. they used a reed as a pen. they drew on soft pieces of clay. the soft clay was then dried in the sun. the tablet became a permanent record. later, the sumerian drawings changed into wedge-shaped symbols. this kind of writing is called cuneiform. by putting symbols together, the sumerians could write entire sentences.

Which of these novels is considered an important precursor to science fiction

Which development most aided explorers in their ability to set sail the oceans to discover the new world during the age discovery? a. waterproof sails b. the printing press c. map-making devices d. fictional travel accounts