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Development of Civilization in Middle East ( Turkey)
The Middle East and the Near East has been the cradle of
world civilization. Much before the birth of Christ, this region supported
advanced civilizations that were the precursor of modern civilizations. One of
the civilizations in this region was the Hittite empire that flourished from
eighteenth century BCE–ca. 1178 BCE. This period coincides with the Bronze Age
and the start of the Iron Age. Historians have concluded that the Hittite
empire though strictly belonging to the Bronze Age was in real terms the
forerunners of the Iron Age. The Bronze Age lasted in the Near East from 3600-1200
BCE. This period is identified when people started using copper and its alloy
bronze. This characteristic is considered as a feature of an urban
civilization. The Hittite empire thrived during this period.
The Hittite Empire
This Hittite Empire was founded by a leader who is referred
to as Labana. Later rulers expanded the kingdom and in 1595 BC attacked
Babylon. The Bible (Old Testament) mentions that the Hittites ruled from 2300
to about 1100 BC. The Book of Genesis describes the Hittites as the descendents
of Heth through Canaan, youngest son of Ham.
The Hittites Empire was head quartered at Hattusa in North Central Anatolia. This area comprises present day Turkey. It is bounded by the Black Sea to the north, the Armenian Highland to the east, the Mediterranean Sea to the south and the Aegean Sea to the west. The Hittites are considered ancient Anatolian people who developed an advanced civilization. The empire came to an end in the Bronze Age in 1180 BCE, when the empire broke up into smaller independent Neo-Hittite states, some of which survived till the 8th century BC.
Zenith of Hittite Empire
The Empire reached its zenith around mid 1400 BC under
Suppiluliuma I. The Hittites developed an advanced military arsenal and were
the first to use the chariots for war in the near and Middle East. The chariots
were used earlier in India as brought out in the Mahabharata during the battle
of Kurukshetra in 4000 BC.
Archaeological evidence is available that shows that towards
the end of the Hittite empire the use of iron artefacts was prevalent; This
from 1400 BC and started from the time of Suppiluliuma I. Historians have
concluded that the Hittites were a fairly advanced civilization. The Capital of
the Hittite Empire was Hattusa. This was almost the heart of the Empire
surrounded by the Halys River, which formed a natural demarcation of the
region.
Consolidation of Hittite Empire
The Hittite Empire was the dominant force in this region and
during the reign of Mursili II, the empire encompassed a vast area, that
touched modern Lebanon in the south and the Kaskian territories in the west.
Historians consider the Hittite Empire as part of 3 distinct
periods. These have been classified as the Old Hittite Kingdom (ca. 1750–1500
BCE), the Middle Hittite Kingdom (ca. 1500–1430 BCE) and the New Hittite
Kingdom (the Hittite Empire proper, 1430–1180 BCE).
The Sun Sets on Hittite Empire
The Hittite Empire had its downward curve during the
fifteenth century BCE. During this period the Empire was weakened till it was
again restored to glory by Tudhaliya I from ca. 1400 BCE. Suppiluliuma I and
Mursili II were other two kings who consolidated Hittite Empire.
After the exit of these rulers the Empire came into clash
with the Egyptians and the Assyrians. In 1300 BCE the Hittites fought wars with
the Egyptians and the Assyrians, but the sun had set on the empire. Civil war
broke out and the empire disintegrated into smaller states which also collapsed
by the 8th century BC.
Last Word
The Hittite Empire is a significant event in world history,
but due to a paucity of written records it is generally placed below the Indo
–Aryan and Chinese civilizations.
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