Humans have organized data into tables, that is, grids of columns and rows, since ancient times. The Babylonians used clay tablets to store data as far back as 1800 BCE.[16] Other examples can be found in book-keeping ledgers and astronomical records.[17]
Since at least 1906 the term "spread sheet" has been used in accounting to mean a grid of columns and rows
Because we have been doing it that way for almost 4,000 years!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spreadsheet#History
Humans have organized data into tables, that is, grids of columns and rows, since ancient times. The Babylonians used clay tablets to store data as far back as 1800 BCE.[16] Other examples can be found in book-keeping ledgers and astronomical records.[17]
Since at least 1906 the term "spread sheet" has been used in accounting to mean a grid of columns and rows