Hittites

The Hittites were an ancient Anatolian people who established an empire centered at Hattusa (modern Boğazkale, Turkey) in north-central Anatolia around the 17th century BCE. Their empire reached its peak in the 14th century BCE, encompassing a large part of Anatolia, northwestern Syria, and upper Mesopotamia.

The Hittite kingdom was characterized by a sophisticated political system, a well-organized military, and a distinct culture. They are notable for being among the first peoples to use iron extensively, although the extent of their monopoly on ironworking is debated by scholars. The Hittite language, belonging to the Indo-European language family, is the oldest attested Indo-European language. It was written in cuneiform, borrowed from Mesopotamia.

The Hittite state was organized as a feudal kingdom, with a king as the supreme ruler. Succession was hereditary, but there were often power struggles among members of the royal family. The king was also the chief priest and military leader. Hittite society was divided into classes, with nobles, priests, warriors, and commoners. Slavery also existed.

Hittite law was relatively humane compared to other contemporary legal systems. It emphasized compensation for injuries and crimes rather than harsh punishments.

The Hittite empire engaged in frequent warfare with neighboring kingdoms, including the Egyptians, the Mitanni, and the Assyrians. A notable event was the Battle of Kadesh against the Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II in the 13th century BCE, which ended in a stalemate and resulted in one of the earliest known peace treaties.

The Hittite empire declined rapidly in the late 13th century BCE, possibly due to internal strife, external attacks, and climate change. Hattusa was destroyed around 1200 BCE, and the Hittite empire disintegrated into several smaller Neo-Hittite city-states in southeastern Anatolia and northern Syria. These Neo-Hittite kingdoms persisted for several centuries before being absorbed by the Assyrian Empire.

The rediscovery of the Hittites in the 19th and 20th centuries, through archaeological excavations and the decipherment of their language, has provided valuable insights into the history and culture of the ancient Near East. Their archives, written on clay tablets, have yielded a wealth of information about their political, social, religious, and economic life.