Here's why:
* Simplicity: Alphabets are much simpler to learn and use than cuneiform, which used hundreds of signs representing syllables and words.
* Efficiency: Alphabets represent individual sounds, making them more efficient for writing down spoken language. Cuneiform, with its complex signs, was much slower and more cumbersome.
* Spread of Knowledge: Alphabets were easier to learn and use, making it possible to spread knowledge and literacy more widely within societies.
Specifically, the Greek alphabet emerged around the 8th century BC as a simplification of the Phoenician alphabet. This alphabet was adopted by many other cultures, eventually forming the basis for the alphabets used in many languages today, including English.
While cuneiform was initially used for a wide range of purposes, from accounting to literature, the adoption of the alphabet led to a decline in its use. By the early centuries AD, cuneiform had essentially disappeared.