An ancient empire located in the region of Anatolia, Syria, and ancient Phoenicia that controlled the trade routes between Greece, Egypt, and Babylon.
The land of the Hittites is surrounded by a deep gorge formed by the Halys River. The gorge, encompassing all the region except for one portion of the northwest, offered protection for the Hittites against possible invaders. The Hittites, a warlike group of people with yellow skin and black hair, moved into the region and established rule over the indigenous population around 1900 B.C.E. They did not disrupt the agricultural way of life that had existed for centuries. The high plateaus of the region were ideally suited for the cultivation of wheat and barley crops. In the lower elevations, vineyards and orchards were cultivated. Animals such as cattle and sheep were also raised.
The peasants attended to the agricultural needs of their new rulers, while the Hittites themselves focused on expanding the empire through a series of wars. After securing a large portion of Anatolia (present-day Turkey), the Hittites turned their attention to the region along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. They conquered the Babylonians and in the process co-opted many of their laws and customs. The Code of Hammurabi that the Babylonians had lived under was modified with most crimes being punished through the imposition of fines and compensation only. Few crimes, such as murder, were punished by death. Women enjoyed greater legal rights, as did slaves. Instead of establishing a direct administration over Babylon or any of their other conquered regions, the Hittites relied on loyal satraps, or governors, who collected the tribute required of the people. Tribute from the Troad, Lydia, Babylon, the cities south of the Black Sea, and even northern Canaan was usually in the form of a few gold coins. The tribute money funded additional campaigns and helped support the warrior ruling class.
Although the Hittites were warriors, their society also relied on skilled craftsmen such as potters, cobblers, and smiths. The smiths developed the first iron tools and weapons from the iron ore obtained from the region of present-day Armenia. The use of this stronger metal gave the Hittites a distinct advantage over their enemies in battle and in the process changed the way battles were fought. The secret of iron smelting was maintained until the end of the Hittite empire, at which time other civilizations began using iron as well. Some scholars argue that the spread of iron technology led to the demise of the empire.
Along with iron weapons, the Hittites also developed the horse-drawn chariot that they used effectively against the predominately infantry armies of their neighbors. These chariots were used against the Egyptian army around 1300 B.C.E. at the Battle of Kadesh. Muwatallis, the Hittite king, had pushed into Syria and Phoenicia in search of further wealth and control of the lucrative trade of the Levant. The Egyptians, under the rule of Rameses II, assembled more than 20,000 men and 2,000 chariots and marched from Egypt to Kadesh, where they captured two Hittite spies who informed them that the Hittite army was still some distance away from Kadesh. The Hittites, with more than 40,000 men, sent out 500 chariots that at-tacked 5,000 Egyptian soldiers as they marched. Many Egyptians were slaughtered, but some escaped and fled back to relay the news to Rameses II. Confident in their victory, the Hittite charioteers began looting the Egyptian camp. Rameses II ordered 500 of his chariots to attack the Hittites, who could not maneuver their own chariots because they were too close to each other. Only with the assistance of the rest of the Hittite forces were the Egyptians defeated. The Hittites continued to control the trade between Greece and Egypt to the south.
Throughout the Hittite empire a single law code helped to unify people from diverse cultures. Many languages were spoken. Although the Hittites were warriors, not traders, they protected traveling merchants who then paid tribute to the Hittites. International trade remained limited since the Hittites simply conquered areas that produced goods that they wanted. However, several cities, such as Carchemish, held regular markets for foreign goods. Artifacts, including many seals, indicate that an extensive trade network existed throughout the empire. Diplomatic relations were established with other countries, often with the queen in charge of correspondence with other queens. Cuneiform writing on clay tablets was adopted from the Babylonians and passed on to the civilizations of Crete. These tablets were useful in the keeping of inventories and the recording of business transactions.
The demise of the Hittite empire occurred around 1200 B.C.E. Scholars argue that a number of factors, including the spread of iron technology, contributed to its end. Continuous warfare with Egypt proved costly in terms of both resources and men. About the same time, the Assyrian empire gained strength and challenged the Hittite power. Meanwhile, the Sea Peoples were attacking along the coast of Anatolia, Crete, Syria, and Palestine, even reaching as far south as Egypt before being stopped. After the sacking of the Hittite capital at Hattushash, the empire declined rapidly. Many Hittites migrated down into the region of Canaan just as Abraham was moving into the area. The mixing of Semites and Hittites is thought to have resulted in the development of a distinctive facial feature—the aquiline nose. Biblical references to the Hittites refer to them as the descendants of Heth, the second son of Canaan.
Cynthia Clark Northrup
See also: Assyrian Empire; Babylonian Empire.
Gurney, Oliver Robert. The Hittites. 2nd ed. New York: Penguin, 1990.
“Hittite Empire” (www.ancientroute.com/empire/hittite.htm, accessed January 2004).
Troy, Fox. “Who Were the Hittites?” (www.touregypt.net/featurestories/hittites.htm, accessed January 2004).