Assyria was named after its first capital city, Assur, or Ashur, which was located in Mesopotamia on a plateau above the Tigris River. Assyria's geography placed it in a vulnerable position, with its terrain open to plunder from all sides. As a result, it was constantly threatened by neighbouring states such as the Mitanni, Hittite, and Babylonian empires. The Assyrians were subjugated by these powers at various points in their history, and they had to fight constantly for their independence. As a result of this, Assyria developed an effective, well-organized, and strong military system capable of dealing with its neighbours' constant aggression, conflicts, and raids. As a result, the Assyrian army grew to be an ext