Parts of the eastern Levant had been under the dominion of the Old Assyrian Empire (c.2025-1750 BCE) at a time when the Levant was largely occupied by Amorite and Canaanite tribes. During the Middle Assyrian Empire (1365-1020 BCE) Assyria rose to be possibly the most powerful nation in the world, and conquered much of the Near East and Asia Minor, as well as extending into the Caucasus, the Arabian peninsula and Ancient Iran.[citation needed]