What Sumerians could read and write?

The Sumerians were one of the first civilizations to develop a writing system, known as cuneiform. However, it's important to understand that not all Sumerians could read and write.

Here's a breakdown:

* Scribes: A specialized group of individuals were trained to read and write cuneiform. They were employed by the government, temples, and wealthy individuals to record transactions, create official documents, and preserve knowledge.

* Literacy: The vast majority of Sumerians, especially farmers and laborers, could not read or write. Literacy was a skill reserved for a privileged few.

* Education: Scribal training was intensive and involved memorizing thousands of cuneiform signs and their associated meanings. It was typically reserved for the children of the elite, although there is some evidence that social mobility was possible through education.

Therefore, while the Sumerians had a written language, it was not a skill widely accessible to the general population.