Which early civilization is renowned for developing cuneiform writing?

The Sumerian civilization is renowned for developing cuneiform writing, one of the earliest known systems of writing. This script was created around 3200 BCE in ancient Mesopotamia, primarily for record-keeping purposes, including trade, laws, and literature. Cuneiform involved making wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets with a stylus, and it evolved over time to accommodate different languages and purposes, becoming a critical tool for administration and communication in Sumer and later in surrounding cultures.

The other civilizations listed, while they made significant contributions to human society, did not develop cuneiform writing. The Egyptian civilization is known for hieroglyphics, which served a different context and purpose. The Indus Valley civilization had its own script that remains undeciphered, and the Harappan civilization is often considered synonymous with the Indus Valley but likewise did not use cuneiform. Thus, the distinctive association of cuneiform writing with the Sumerian civilization is what makes it the correct answer to this question.