The ancient civilization that developed around the Tigris and Euphrates rivers is known as Mesopotamia. This region, whose name means "between rivers" in Greek, is located in what is now modern-day Iraq, as well as parts of Iran, Syria, and Turkey. Mesopotamia is often referred to as the cradle of civilization because it was here that some of the earliest known human societies emerged, including the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians. These civilizations made significant contributions to human history, including the development of writing, complex legal systems, and monumental architecture.