Why was the economic system of mercantilism challenged by Adam Smith and other Enlightenment advocates?

Smith made a number of important criticisms of mercantilist doctrine. First, he demonstrated that trade, when freely initiated, benefits both parties.

Explanation: because  Second, he argued that specialization in production allows for economies of scale, which improves efficiency and growth.

the first forms of writing came from them in the form of pictographs around 3100 bc.