Which ancient people are known for the development and use of cuneiform writing?

The Sumerians are recognized for the development and use of cuneiform writing, one of the earliest systems of writing in human history. This innovative writing system emerged in ancient Mesopotamia around 3400 BCE. Cuneiform involved pressing a stylus into soft clay tablets to create a series of wedge-shaped marks. Initially developed for record-keeping and administrative purposes, cuneiform evolved to represent not only economic transactions but also literature, legal codes, and historical records. The significance of Sumerian contributions to writing laid the groundwork for subsequent cultures, influencing the development of writing systems in neighboring civilizations, including the Akkadians and Babylonians.

The other groups mentioned, while significant in their own right, did not pioneer the cuneiform system. The Greeks developed their own alphabetic writing system that emerged much later, while the Hittites used cuneiform but adopted it from the Sumerians. The Hebrews utilized a different script, known as the Phoenician alphabet, which also came much later following the innovations introduced by the Sumerians.