Hittites and Antilona City Overview
Hittites meaning as they are referred to as the ancient Indo-European groups who during the 1600 BCE built their empire in the city of Anatolia at Hatussa which is presently known as Turkey. It was situated in the western Peninsula of Asia. During the 1300 BCE, the Hittites dynasty rose to its peak, spreading its empire throughout Asia Minor, into the northern Levant square and Upper Mesopotamia (northern Middle East).
At that time they were having a large number of domesticated horses that were considered as the most high-tech form of transportation because of which like many other Indo-Europeans the Hittites were able to move long distances and migrate easily. In Mesopotamia and other related regions, most of the other modern technologies such as wagons and wheels were also introduced during the 1300 century. This in turn encouraged both animal farming as well as agriculture around the region.
In 1800 BC the entire empire witnessed a breakdown and was splintered into many small states and cities that were independent of one another. As these states were newly formed thus they were referred to as “Neo Hittites” and were among the few states and cities that lasted till the end of the 8 century BCE. This article primarily deals with the Hittites and ancient Anatolia.
Culture
As Hittites are the members of the Indo-European region, thus they had the language that falls in the family of the languages that are used in modern days in America, Europe, and Western and Southern Asia. According to nineteenth-century archaeology, the Hittites are also named after their initial identification with the Hittites in the bible. Some of the people who are living among the Israelites are identified as Hittites.
During 3000 BC, that is, during the bronze age, the Hittite Empire was growing and on its way to flourishing in the city of Anatolia. But in the iron age, they were at their peak and were considered as the pioneers of that time. By the start of 1400 BCE, the Hittites started to manufacture the iron artifacts and these were more significant at that period because the tools and the weapons that were made out of iron were much more effective than those that were made from bronze. There have been many theories that exist on how the Hittites have developed such advanced technologies to create various iron artifacts. Thus many historians believe that the Hittites for many years have been experimenting with the metalworks which helped them to discover the smelting process where the iron is melted at a very high temperature than that of the copper. It is because the melting temperature of copper is lesser than that of iron. Some of the other historians believed that their trading relationship with Assyria and parts of the Egyptian empire had led them to create more iron artifacts. It is because their demand in these two countries was very high. They are also believed to have learned some metalwork from the people of the Zagros Mountains in western Iran.
After 1800 BCE, a huge turmoil started in the Levant as the unknown people of the sea started coming in ships to raid the Mediterranean regions as well as Egypt. Soon after the progression of these events, the one single Hittites Empire broke down into many independent small city-states that are then referred to as the Neo-Hittites. Most of their history and the events are recovered from cuneiform texts that are found in the area of their former kingdom and the archives of Egypt that were full of mails from diplomats as well as trade and commercial mails. Through the writings in the cuneiform texts, it was clear that the Mesopotamian writing has been transferred to the Hittites and therefore indicates some direct or indirect connection between the two. Some of the historians believed that the Hittites had some trading relationship with the Mesopotamians and some believed that it is related to the conquest of the Hittites over another empire known as Hatti who was connected to Sumerians, a Mesopotamian king.
The Hittites State
The head of the Hittites state would be the king and his heir who will apparently be one of his offspring who will be the next successor of the throne. However, the king did not have full control of the administration of the kingdom, as many officials independently exercised their authority over many parts of the kingdom. For instance, the Chief of the Royal Bodyguards, the Chief of the Scribe along with the Chief of the Wine Stewards are the ones who were responsible for channelizing the bureaucracy.
The written scripts mostly deal with the kings and their campaigns and describe very little about the day-to-day life of the people of Anatolia or the Hittite empire. Thus it remained a mystery throughout. The Hittites used the scripts in the Akkadian language though they used to translate them into their own Indo-European language and then used to seal them with a cylindrical seal. Their scripts had a very striking similarity to that of the Mesopotamians as they also used Akkadian manuscripts. Thus it is being elaborated that the two had some direct or indirect connections with each other.
It is also believed that the Hittites have learned about Mesopotamian through the Hatti empire who was one of the rulers of the ancient Anatolia city was later conquered by the Hittites. Though it has been observed through their writings and scripts that the culture, as well as the life of the Hattis, were slightly different from that of the Hittites. But it has been a mystery of what actually the kind of relationship shared by these two groups as very little information in terms of the written scripts are available on their culture or day-to-day life.
Religion of Hittites
Hittites were polytheists and their storm gods were prominent among the Hittite pantheon that is known as the set of all gods that they believed in being the polytheists. The King of Kummiya, King of Heaven, and Lord of the land of Hatti were the titles given to the Tarhunt who were referred to as the conqueror. He was considered as the supreme power of victory and battle against any foreign powers. This shows their values and beliefs in the military system in their empire.
Conclusion
Thus Hittites were from the era of 1600 to 1180 BCE who were the flourishing rulers in the bronze age of the ancient state Anatolia which is presently known as Turkey in modern times. They became prominent leaders in the iron age and were very equipped with modern technologies. They could migrate from one place to another very swiftly and in less time as they had domesticated horses that were considered as the most modern way of commutation back then, they were also experienced in metalworking. They had a greater influence on the Mesopotamians in their scripts and therefore it is believed that they had some direct or indirect connection with them. Though the king was the head of the state that would be preceded by his offspring but did not have the entire control of the Kingdom. The Hittites are the polytheists.
FAQs on The Hittites and Ancient Anatolia
1. Where was the ancient region of Anatolia located?
The ancient region of Anatolia corresponds to the large peninsula in Western Asia that makes up the majority of modern-day Turkey. It is bordered by the Black Sea to the north, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and the Aegean Sea to the west, and has been a crossroads of civilizations for thousands of years.
2. Who were the Hittites and what was their connection to Anatolia?
The Hittites were an ancient people who spoke an Indo-European language and established a powerful kingdom and later an empire centred in north-central Anatolia. Their connection is foundational; they built their civilization in Anatolia, with their capital at Hattusa, and became one of the dominant powers of the ancient Near East during the Late Bronze Age (c. 1600–1178 BCE).
3. What was unique about the Hittite language and their system of writing?
The Hittite language is exceptionally important to historians and linguists because it is the oldest attested Indo-European language discovered so far. For writing, the Hittites were versatile, using two different scripts:
- Cuneiform: Adopted from Mesopotamia, this was used for official archives, legal documents, and correspondence on clay tablets.
- Anatolian Hieroglyphs: A unique script used for monumental inscriptions on stone, such as official seals and public monuments.
4. What is the general timeline of the Hittite civilization?
The history of the Hittites is typically divided into three main periods:
- The Old Kingdom (c. 1600–1500 BCE): The period when the Hittite state was consolidated in Anatolia.
- The Middle Kingdom (c. 1500–1430 BCE): A more obscure period with fewer surviving records.
- The New Kingdom or Hittite Empire (c. 1430–1178 BCE): The peak of Hittite power, when they controlled a vast territory and contended with other major powers like Egypt.
5. What were the main features of the Hittite religion?
The Hittites were polytheistic and their religion is often called the 'religion of a thousand gods'. A key feature was their practice of syncretism, meaning they readily adopted and incorporated the gods of other peoples they conquered or came into contact with, such as the Hurrians and Mesopotamians. The Storm God, Tarhunt, and the Sun Goddess of Arinna were two of their most important native deities.
6. What were the most important contributions of the Hittites to world history?
The Hittites made several significant contributions, the importance of which is still studied today. Key examples include:
- Iron Technology: They were among the first civilizations to master iron-working, which gave them a military and economic advantage over their Bronze Age contemporaries.
- Advanced Warfare: They developed and perfected the light, horse-drawn war chariot, which carried a crew of three (a driver, a warrior, and a shield-bearer), making it a formidable military innovation.
- Diplomacy and Law: They are famous for signing the Treaty of Kadesh with Egypt, one of the earliest surviving international peace treaties. Their law codes were also notable for favouring restitution over the more common 'eye for an eye' retribution.
7. How did the Hittites manage to build and sustain such a powerful empire?
The Hittites built their empire through a combination of strategic advantages. Their military strength was based on superior technology like iron weapons and advanced chariots. Politically, they established a sophisticated system of administration, ruling over a network of vassal states that paid tribute and provided troops. Their strategic control over key trade routes for metals and other resources in Anatolia also provided the economic foundation needed to sustain their military and political power.
8. What is the historical significance of the Battle of Kadesh?
The Battle of Kadesh (c. 1274 BCE) between the Hittite Empire and the New Kingdom of Egypt is historically significant not because of its outcome—both sides claimed victory—but because of what happened afterwards. The resulting stalemate led to the negotiation of the Treaty of Kadesh. This treaty is a landmark in the history of international relations, establishing defined borders, a non-aggression pact, and mutual defence clauses. It demonstrates a high level of diplomacy and statecraft in the ancient world.
9. Why did the powerful Hittite Empire eventually collapse?
The collapse of the Hittite Empire around 1178 BCE was not due to a single cause but a 'systems collapse' involving multiple factors. The primary reasons include:
- External Invasions: Widespread attacks from a mysterious confederation of raiders known as the 'Sea Peoples' destabilised the region.
- Internal Weakness: The empire suffered from internal power struggles, civil wars, and rebellions in its vassal states.
- Economic Disruption: Climate change may have led to drought and famine, disrupting agriculture and breaking down the complex trade networks upon which the empire's economy depended.
10. How is the concept of 'Anatolia' different from 'the Hittite Empire'?
It is important to understand the difference between the geography and the political state. Anatolia is a geographical term referring to the vast peninsula of Asia Minor (modern Turkey). It is a place that has hosted numerous different cultures and empires over thousands of years. In contrast, the Hittite Empire was a specific political and cultural entity that existed in a large part of Anatolia during a specific time, the Late Bronze Age. Therefore, while the Hittite Empire was located in Anatolia, Anatolia's history is much larger than just the story of the Hittites.
