Mesopotamia was located in modern-day Iraq and Syria. It was the site of some of the earliest human civilizations. Sumerian was the earliest written language in Mesopotamia, though Akkadian and Aramaic later became dominant. Mesopotamian cultures made important advances in astronomy, mathematics, law, architecture, and other areas. Kings and their governments played a major role in Mesopotamian society, though kings were not considered gods as in ancient Egypt. Mesopotamian empires like Assyria and Babylonia ruled the region at different points in history.