* Sumerians: They invented cuneiform around 3500 BCE.
* Akkadians: They adopted and adapted cuneiform for their own language.
* Babylonians: They continued to use cuneiform for their own language, developing a complex system of writing and literature.
* Assyrians: They also used cuneiform, developing their own distinct forms and styles.
* Hittites: They used a simplified version of cuneiform for their own language.
* Elamites: They used cuneiform for their own language, though with a distinct script and style.
* Hurrians: They used a version of cuneiform called "Hurrian cuneiform."
* Other civilizations: Cuneiform was also used by other groups in the region, including the Urartians, the Persians, and the early Greeks.
It was used for a variety of purposes:
* Record keeping: Cuneiform tablets were used to record everything from business transactions to laws and treaties.
* Literature: Cuneiform was also used to write poetry, myths, and epics.
* Religious texts: Cuneiform was used to write hymns, prayers, and other religious texts.
It's important to note that while cuneiform was a writing system, different groups adapted it to their own languages. This resulted in a variety of cuneiform scripts, each with its own unique characteristics.