What ancient civilization is noted for developing cuneiform writing?

The Sumerians are noted for developing cuneiform writing, which is recognized as one of the earliest systems of writing in human history. Originating around 3200 BCE in ancient Mesopotamia, cuneiform involved the use of a stylus to make wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets. This innovation represented a significant advancement in communication, allowing for the recording of transactions, laws, and stories, thereby facilitating the administration of complex societies and the preservation of cultural knowledge.

Sumerian cuneiform laid the foundation for subsequent developments in writing systems, influencing later civilizations in the region, such as the Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians, who adapted and used cuneiform for their own languages. However, while these later civilizations utilized cuneiform, it was the Sumerians who originally created and formalized the writing system, establishing its structure and purpose. This distinction underscores the Sumerians' critical role in the evolution of writing in the ancient world.