Soon, Mycenae incorporated local and small city-states into its civilization, such as Tiryns, Pylos, Thebes, and Orchomenos.These city-states paid taxes to the Mycenaean rulers, pledged their allegiance to Mycenae, and provided soldiers in times of battle. Around this time, the first great palaces of the city were constructed. Due to its position in the Mediterranean, Mycenae became a central port of trade and economic growth flourished. It soon rivaled Knossos as a central power, both economically and militarily. The general consensus is that the Mycenaean civilization reached its pinnacle of power around 1400 B.C.E. This period is generally referred to as Late Helladic IIIA-IIIB.