Here's why:
* Hieroglyphs and cuneiform were both logographic systems, meaning that each symbol represented a word or concept. This made them very complex and difficult to learn.
* Alphabetic writing systems use symbols to represent individual sounds (phonemes). This makes them much simpler to learn and use, and it allows for the representation of a wider range of languages.
How did they influence alphabets?
* Hieroglyphs: Some hieroglyphs evolved to represent sounds, which paved the way for the creation of alphabetic systems. For example, the Greek alphabet is believed to have evolved from the Egyptian hieroglyphic script.
* Cuneiform: The cuneiform system evolved from a pictographic system to include phonetic symbols, and some of these phonetic elements contributed to the development of later alphabetic systems.
While the connection is not direct, the development of these two ancient writing systems provided the foundation for the evolution of writing, ultimately leading to the creation of the alphabetic systems we use today.