History of the Hittites

Origins and Early Kingdom (18th century BC)

The history of the Hittites begins in the 18th century BC with the establishment of a kingdom centered on Hattusha, located in the center of Anatolia. This Indo-European speaking people quickly dominated the region and surrounding peoples, including the Luwites and Hurrites.

Rise to Power (16th-13th centuries BC)

Around the 16th century BC, the Hittite kingdom began to expand, eventually becoming one of the great powers of the Middle East alongside Babylon, Mitani, Egypt, and Assyria. By the 13th century BC, the Hittites had reached their maximum expansion, occupying almost all of Anatolia, as well as significant parts of Cyprus, Syria, and Mesopotamia.

Traditional Periodization

Traditionally, the Hittite story has been divided into three periods: the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom (now considered a dark or decadence stage), and the New Kingdom. However, recent research suggests that the Middle Kingdom may not have existed as a distinct period, but rather as a transitional phase between the Old and New Kingdoms.

The Hittite Great Empire (16th-12th centuries BC)

The Hittite Great Empire flourished from 1600 to 1200 BC. During this time, the Hittites developed a powerful kingdom that rivaled other major powers of the ancient world. However, their empire abruptly disappeared from history around 1200 BC, likely due to the influx of the "Sea Peoples" (also known as the Denyen, Peleset, Tjeker, Shekelesh, Weshesh, and Ekweš).

Dating and Sources

Due to the lack of Hittite sources, the lengths of Hittite rulers' governments cannot be accurately dated. Instead, dating is based on point-by-point references from letters with other kings and inscriptions, which are often classified as "short" or "medium" chronology.

Note: The above article has been synthesized to maintain a neutral tone and avoid any redundancies while keeping all factual data intact.