### **The Hittites: The Civili…
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Writer AndyKim Hit 1,068 Hit Date 25-01-17 12:35Content
### **The Hittites: The Civilization of Iron**
The **Hittites** were an ancient Anatolian civilization that thrived during the **Bronze Age** and the early **Iron Age**. Renowned for their pioneering use of iron, military innovations, and a powerful empire, the Hittites played a significant role in shaping the history of the Near East. Their influence extended across Anatolia (modern-day Turkey), the Levant, and parts of Mesopotamia, leaving a lasting legacy on the ancient world.
---
### **Origins and Early History**
1. **Origins:**
- The Hittites were an **Indo-European** people who migrated into Anatolia around **2000 BCE**.
- They absorbed and built upon the cultural and technological advances of the earlier Hattian and Hurrian peoples who inhabited the region.
2. **Establishment of the Hittite Kingdom:**
- The Hittite Kingdom was established around **1750 BCE** by King **Hattusili I**, who founded the capital at **Hattusa** (modern-day Boğazköy).
- Early rulers expanded the kingdom through military conquests and alliances, creating a centralized state.
---
### **The Hittite Empire (c. 1650–1200 BCE)**
1. **Height of Power:**
- The Hittites reached the peak of their power during the **New Kingdom (Empire Period)**, beginning around **1400 BCE**.
- Kings such as **Suppiluliuma I** and **Mursili II** expanded the empire, conquering territories in Syria and challenging the dominance of Egypt and Babylon.
2. **Relations with Neighboring Powers:**
- The Hittites were major rivals to the Egyptians, particularly during the reign of **Ramses II**.
- The famous **Battle of Kadesh (1274 BCE)** between the Hittites and Egyptians is considered one of the largest chariot battles in history. It ended in a stalemate and led to the signing of one of the first known **peace treaties** in human history.
3. **Use of Iron:**
- The Hittites are often credited as pioneers in the use of **iron metallurgy**, giving them a technological advantage over their contemporaries who primarily relied on bronze.
- While they did not invent ironworking, they refined its use, producing stronger weapons and tools.
4. **Administration and Laws:**
- The Hittite Empire was known for its sophisticated legal system, which included written laws codified in clay tablets.
- Their administration relied on a network of vassal states and alliances to govern vast territories.
---
### **Society and Culture**
1. **Religion:**
- The Hittites were polytheistic, worshiping a pantheon of gods associated with natural forces and phenomena.
- Major deities included the **Storm God (Tarhunt)** and the **Sun Goddess of Arinna**.
- Religious practices included festivals, rituals, and the construction of monumental temples.
2. **Language and Writing:**
- The Hittites used **cuneiform script**, borrowed from Mesopotamia, to record their language, **Hittite**, which is the oldest known Indo-European language.
- They also used hieroglyphic writing for monumental inscriptions.
3. **Architecture:**
- Hattusa, the capital city, was a marvel of ancient urban planning, with massive stone walls, gates adorned with lion and sphinx carvings, and palaces.
- Religious and administrative centers were central to Hittite cities.
4. **Art and Iconography:**
- Hittite art often depicted gods, warriors, and mythological scenes in relief carvings and sculptures.
- Their art was heavily influenced by neighboring cultures, such as the Hurrians and Mesopotamians.
---
### **Military Innovations**
1. **Chariot Warfare:**
- The Hittites were masters of chariot warfare, employing three-man chariots (driver, warrior, and shield-bearer) that provided a tactical edge in battle.
- They used chariots for speed, mobility, and shock value in combat.
2. **Iron Weapons:**
- Iron swords, spears, and tools gave the Hittite military a technological advantage over enemies using bronze.
3. **Fortifications:**
- The Hittites constructed fortified cities with defensive walls and gates designed to withstand prolonged sieges.
---
### **Mythology and Religion**
1. **Mythological Texts:**
- Hittite mythology was a blend of indigenous Anatolian beliefs and influences from Mesopotamia and the Hurrians.
- Key myths include the **Kumarbi Cycle**, which narrates the struggles of gods for supremacy.
2. **The Sacred Kingship:**
- The king was seen as both a political leader and a divine figure who mediated between the gods and the people.
---
### **Decline and Fall**
1. **Collapse of the Empire:**
- The Hittite Empire collapsed around **1200 BCE**, during the **Bronze Age Collapse**, a period of widespread disruption in the ancient Near East.
- Possible causes include internal strife, invasions by the **Sea Peoples**, and economic instability.
2. **Survival of Hittite Culture:**
- After the fall of the empire, smaller **Neo-Hittite** city-states emerged in northern Syria and southern Anatolia.
- These city-states continued Hittite cultural traditions until they were absorbed by the Assyrian Empire.
---
### **Legacy of the Hittites**
1. **Ironworking:**
- The Hittites’ advancements in iron technology laid the groundwork for the widespread use of iron in the **Iron Age**.
2. **Legal and Diplomatic Traditions:**
- The Hittites’ codified laws and the peace treaty with Egypt set precedents in diplomacy and governance.
3. **Archaeological Discoveries:**
- The rediscovery of the Hittite civilization in the early 20th century, particularly through excavations at Hattusa, revealed their significant role in history.
- Thousands of cuneiform tablets found at Hattusa have provided invaluable insights into Hittite society, religion, and politics.
4. **Influence on Neighboring Cultures:**
- The Hittites influenced the cultural and political landscapes of the Near East, interacting with civilizations such as the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Egyptians.
---
### **Conclusion**
The Hittites were a formidable power in the ancient world, known for their military prowess, diplomatic achievements, and technological innovations. Their contributions to metallurgy, law, and statecraft left a lasting impact on subsequent civilizations. Although their empire eventually fell, the rediscovery of their legacy continues to shed light on the rich tapestry of human history.
The **Hittites** were an ancient Anatolian civilization that thrived during the **Bronze Age** and the early **Iron Age**. Renowned for their pioneering use of iron, military innovations, and a powerful empire, the Hittites played a significant role in shaping the history of the Near East. Their influence extended across Anatolia (modern-day Turkey), the Levant, and parts of Mesopotamia, leaving a lasting legacy on the ancient world.
---
### **Origins and Early History**
1. **Origins:**
- The Hittites were an **Indo-European** people who migrated into Anatolia around **2000 BCE**.
- They absorbed and built upon the cultural and technological advances of the earlier Hattian and Hurrian peoples who inhabited the region.
2. **Establishment of the Hittite Kingdom:**
- The Hittite Kingdom was established around **1750 BCE** by King **Hattusili I**, who founded the capital at **Hattusa** (modern-day Boğazköy).
- Early rulers expanded the kingdom through military conquests and alliances, creating a centralized state.
---
### **The Hittite Empire (c. 1650–1200 BCE)**
1. **Height of Power:**
- The Hittites reached the peak of their power during the **New Kingdom (Empire Period)**, beginning around **1400 BCE**.
- Kings such as **Suppiluliuma I** and **Mursili II** expanded the empire, conquering territories in Syria and challenging the dominance of Egypt and Babylon.
2. **Relations with Neighboring Powers:**
- The Hittites were major rivals to the Egyptians, particularly during the reign of **Ramses II**.
- The famous **Battle of Kadesh (1274 BCE)** between the Hittites and Egyptians is considered one of the largest chariot battles in history. It ended in a stalemate and led to the signing of one of the first known **peace treaties** in human history.
3. **Use of Iron:**
- The Hittites are often credited as pioneers in the use of **iron metallurgy**, giving them a technological advantage over their contemporaries who primarily relied on bronze.
- While they did not invent ironworking, they refined its use, producing stronger weapons and tools.
4. **Administration and Laws:**
- The Hittite Empire was known for its sophisticated legal system, which included written laws codified in clay tablets.
- Their administration relied on a network of vassal states and alliances to govern vast territories.
---
### **Society and Culture**
1. **Religion:**
- The Hittites were polytheistic, worshiping a pantheon of gods associated with natural forces and phenomena.
- Major deities included the **Storm God (Tarhunt)** and the **Sun Goddess of Arinna**.
- Religious practices included festivals, rituals, and the construction of monumental temples.
2. **Language and Writing:**
- The Hittites used **cuneiform script**, borrowed from Mesopotamia, to record their language, **Hittite**, which is the oldest known Indo-European language.
- They also used hieroglyphic writing for monumental inscriptions.
3. **Architecture:**
- Hattusa, the capital city, was a marvel of ancient urban planning, with massive stone walls, gates adorned with lion and sphinx carvings, and palaces.
- Religious and administrative centers were central to Hittite cities.
4. **Art and Iconography:**
- Hittite art often depicted gods, warriors, and mythological scenes in relief carvings and sculptures.
- Their art was heavily influenced by neighboring cultures, such as the Hurrians and Mesopotamians.
---
### **Military Innovations**
1. **Chariot Warfare:**
- The Hittites were masters of chariot warfare, employing three-man chariots (driver, warrior, and shield-bearer) that provided a tactical edge in battle.
- They used chariots for speed, mobility, and shock value in combat.
2. **Iron Weapons:**
- Iron swords, spears, and tools gave the Hittite military a technological advantage over enemies using bronze.
3. **Fortifications:**
- The Hittites constructed fortified cities with defensive walls and gates designed to withstand prolonged sieges.
---
### **Mythology and Religion**
1. **Mythological Texts:**
- Hittite mythology was a blend of indigenous Anatolian beliefs and influences from Mesopotamia and the Hurrians.
- Key myths include the **Kumarbi Cycle**, which narrates the struggles of gods for supremacy.
2. **The Sacred Kingship:**
- The king was seen as both a political leader and a divine figure who mediated between the gods and the people.
---
### **Decline and Fall**
1. **Collapse of the Empire:**
- The Hittite Empire collapsed around **1200 BCE**, during the **Bronze Age Collapse**, a period of widespread disruption in the ancient Near East.
- Possible causes include internal strife, invasions by the **Sea Peoples**, and economic instability.
2. **Survival of Hittite Culture:**
- After the fall of the empire, smaller **Neo-Hittite** city-states emerged in northern Syria and southern Anatolia.
- These city-states continued Hittite cultural traditions until they were absorbed by the Assyrian Empire.
---
### **Legacy of the Hittites**
1. **Ironworking:**
- The Hittites’ advancements in iron technology laid the groundwork for the widespread use of iron in the **Iron Age**.
2. **Legal and Diplomatic Traditions:**
- The Hittites’ codified laws and the peace treaty with Egypt set precedents in diplomacy and governance.
3. **Archaeological Discoveries:**
- The rediscovery of the Hittite civilization in the early 20th century, particularly through excavations at Hattusa, revealed their significant role in history.
- Thousands of cuneiform tablets found at Hattusa have provided invaluable insights into Hittite society, religion, and politics.
4. **Influence on Neighboring Cultures:**
- The Hittites influenced the cultural and political landscapes of the Near East, interacting with civilizations such as the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Egyptians.
---
### **Conclusion**
The Hittites were a formidable power in the ancient world, known for their military prowess, diplomatic achievements, and technological innovations. Their contributions to metallurgy, law, and statecraft left a lasting impact on subsequent civilizations. Although their empire eventually fell, the rediscovery of their legacy continues to shed light on the rich tapestry of human history.
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