Contributions
- The Hittites were partially responsible for bringing about the Iron Age
- They used superior iron weapons
- Usage and respect of many different languages
- Basis of taxation
- Impressive use of chariots
What did the Hittites use iron for?
Lesson Summary. The Hittites, a major power in the ancient Near East, are credited with being the first civilization to make iron into weapons and armor, transitioning from to the Iron Age from the previous Bronze Age, which saw the use of bronze that was cold-hammered into weapons and armor.
What was the Hittite society like?
Hittite society was essentially feudal and agrarian, the common people being either freemen, “artisans,” or slaves. Anatolia was rich in metals, especially silver and iron. In the empire period the Hittites developed iron-working technology, helping to initiate the Iron Age.
Why was agriculture important to the Hittites?
Agriculture was important to the Hittites, and they grew grapes, apples, pomegranate, and barley They also domesticated donkeys, horses, cows, and honey bees The Hittites were partially responsible for bringing about the Iron Age They used superior iron weapons
What is the significance of the Hittites in the Bible?
The Hittites play a prominent role at key places in the Hebrew Bible: Ephron the Hittite sells Abraham the family burial ground (Genesis 23); Esau married Hittite women, and Rebecca despised them (Genesis 26:34); frequently they are listed as one of the inhabitants of Canaan (e.g.,...
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What are the contribution of Hittites in civilization?
The Hittites were an ancient Anatolian (modern-day Turkey) people who formed an empire between 1600-1180 BCE. The Hittites manufactured advanced iron goods, ruled over their kingdom through government officials with independent authority over various branches of government, and worshipped storm gods.
Who were the Hittites and what were some of their technological achievements?
Terms in this set (6) What were some of the technological achievements of the Hittites? They made chariots, were the first to work with iron, and made iron weapons.
What was the Hittites greatest achievement?
Invention of Iron Weaponry This credit is given to the Hittites who, by most accounts, were the first to make iron into weapons and armor, ushering in the Iron Age, which was a period dominated by the use of iron.
Did the Hittites invent iron?
The Hittites were the first group of people to develop and use iron.
Who are the Hittites today?
The modern conventional name "Hittites" is due to the initial identification of the people of Hattusa with the Biblical Hittites by 19th-century archaeologists....Hittites.Hittite Empire Ḫa-at-tu-ša / 𒄩𒀜𒌅𒊭Preceded by Succeeded by Kanesh Third Eblaite Kingdom Syro-Hittite statesToday part ofTurkey Syria Lebanon Cyprus17 more rows
What's the meaning of Hittites?
Definition of Hittite 1 : a member of a conquering people in Asia Minor and Syria with an empire in the second millennium b.c. 2 : the extinct Indo-European language of the Hittites — see Indo-European Languages Table.
How did Hittites discover iron?
Archeologists believe that iron was discovered by the Hittites of ancient Egypt somewhere between 5000 and 3000 BCE. During this time, they hammered or pounded the metal to create tools and weapons. They found and extracted it from meteorites and used the ore to make spearheads, tools and other trinkets.
Where did the Hittites originally come from?
Probably originating from the area beyond the Black Sea, the Hittites first occupied central Anatolia, making their capital at Hattusa (modern Boğazköy). Early kings of the Hittite Old Kingdom, such as Hattusilis I (reigned c. 1650–c.
What religion did the Hittites practice?
The religion of the Hittites is only incompletely known, though it can be characterized as a tolerant polytheism that included not only indigenous Anatolian deities but also Syrian and Hurrian divinities.
What is a Hittite?
See Article History. Hittite, member of an ancient Indo-European people who appeared in Anatolia at the beginning of the 2nd millennium b ce;
What was the fall of the Hittite Empire?
The fall of the Hittite empire ( c. 1193 bce) was sudden and may be attributed to large-scale migrations that included the Sea Peoples. While the heartland of the empire was inundated by Phrygians, some of the Cilician and Syrian dominions retained their Hittite identity for another five centuries, evolving politically into a multitude of small independent principalities and city-states, which were gradually incorporated by Assyria until by 710 bce the last vestiges of Neo-Hittite political independence had been obliterated.
Where did the Hittites originate?
Probably originating from the area beyond the Black Sea, the Hittites first occupied central Anatolia, making their capital at Hattusa (modern Boğazköy ). Early kings of the Hittite Old Kingdom, such as Hattusilis I (reigned c. 1650– c. 1620 bce ), consolidated and extended Hittite control over much of Anatolia and northern Syria.
What is the plastic art of the Hittites?
The plastic art of pre-imperial Hittite culture is scarce; from the Hittite empire, however, many examples have been found of stone sculptures in a powerful, though somewhat unrefined, style. The art of the Late Hittite states is markedly different, showing a composite of Hittite, Syrian, Assyrian, and, occasionally, Egyptian and Phoenician motifs and influences. See also Anatolia: The rise and fall of the Hittites.
Was the Hittite king a ruler?
The Hittite king was not only the chief ruler, military leader, and supreme judge but also the earthly deputy of the storm god; upon dying, he himself became a god. Hittite society was essentially feudal and agrarian, the common people being either freemen, “artisans,” or slaves.
Who Were the Hittites?
Who were the Hittites? At one time the Hittites were one of three superpowers in the ancient world. Tudhaliya IV (1237–1209 B.C.E.) ruled over the Hittite Kingdom during its heyday and is depicted here on a rock carving from the Hittites’ sacred open-air shrine at Yazilikaya, less than a mile from the Hittite capital of Hattusa in present-day Turkey. Photo: Sonia Halliday.
Who were the Hittites according to archaeology?
Who were the Hittites according to archaeology? As early as 1900 B.C.E., an Indo-European people began to settle in what is now Turkey. By the 16th century B.C.E., they were powerful enough to invade Babylon. Their might continued to expand until they were a superpower on the level with Egypt and Assyria. Relations with Egypt were particularly volatile and included the famous Battle of Kadesh and the eventual signing of the world’s oldest peace treaty. The Hittite capital, Hattusa, has been excavated, revealing a formidable and religious empire.
What did the Hittites call themselves?
The older Hittites never self-identified as Hittites, but called their language Nesite and their land Hatti, referring to themselves as the people of Hatti. Had scholars known from the beginning what has been subsequently uncovered, these people would probably be called Nesites or perhaps Nesians.
What was the name of the POC that was a Hamitic POC?
The Hittites were a Hamitic POC. They were a “darkened” or “black” people that descended from the line of Ham the father of the dark races. During the scattering of Babel, the family of Heth divided itself into three groups. One of the groups followed its grandfather “Canaan” to the land of Canaan or “Gods land”, while the others journeyed northwest and east, into Asia Minor (Turkey), and Aramea (Syria).
What is the symbol of Hattusa?
The wall around Hattusa was more than 6 miles long and had several decorated gates. Visitors to the city would enter through the Lion Gate—named for the stone lions on either side of the entrance. The lion was a symbol of protection, defiance and royalty in Hittite culture. Photo: Sonia Halliday Photographs/Photo by Jane Taylor.
Where did the Hittites abandon their land?
In the 14th century B.C.E., Carchemish in northern Syria was made a vice-regal seat. As the Hittites began abandoning the land of Hatti during the region-wide decline at the end of the 12th century B.C.E., they may have fled to this location. Who were the Hittites according to the Bible?
When was Hattusa burned?
Excavation evidence shows that Hattusa was invaded and burned in the early 12th century B.C.E., but this was after the city had largely been abandoned. In the 14th century B.C.E., Carchemish in northern Syria was made a vice-regal seat. As the Hittites began abandoning the land of Hatti during the region-wide decline at the end of the 12th century B.C.E., they may have fled to this location.
What did the Hittites do?
The Hittites were skilled metallurgists, or people who study the properties and composition of metals, and, after mining iron by the Black Sea, smelted the iron to turn it into liquid form, then making it into strong and sharp weapons.
How did the Hittites use iron?
The use of iron made a huge change in warfare. The Hittites were skilled metallurgists, or people who study the properties and composition of metals, and had iron mines near the Black Sea on the northern part of the their kingdom. They discovered the strength of iron and how to make it into weapons and armor. They first smelted the ore, meaning melting it into liquid form. Instead of just using a wood fire to smelt it, they used charcoal, which added carbon into the iron and made it even stronger. After pouring into in flat sheets or shapes, they used a technique previous unheard of and put the iron piece into the fire to soften the metal, then used a hammer to mold it.
What did the Hittites do to the Black Sea?
The Hittites were skilled metallurgists, or people who study the properties and composition of metals, and, after mining iron by the Black Sea, smelted the iron to turn it into liquid form, then making it into strong and sharp weapons.
Why did the Hittites use two spokes?
The Hittites found the perfect number of spokes to both maintain support and durability while speeding up the chariot by making it lighter, just by cutting out two spokes. Because they were lighter they could go faster, making them efficient in battle and transport.
How many spokes did the Hittites have?
Most made wheels with eight spokes, though some made ten-spoke wheels while others made four-spoke wheels. The Hittites developed something that bridged the wide gap and made six-spoke wheels. While this might not seem like a huge change, it was a major improvement for chariots.
What were the vehicles that the Hittites used to transport soldiers?
Chariots were typically two-wheeled vehicles pulled by horses (though other animals were sometimes used) with a carriage area for soldiers to ride in during battle, often carrying bows or spears. The Hittites followed this basic structure, though making the riding compartment bowed for more space by wetting the wood to make it pliable.
Why was iron not used in ancient times?
Iron was not always used for warfare, however, because many ancient groups did not know how to refine iron ore to make it into a weapon. This credit is given to the Hittites who, by most accounts, were the first to make iron into weapons and armor, ushering in the Iron Age, which was a period dominated by the use of iron.
What did the Hittites do?
They pioneered the use of iron; while everyone else around them was making do with bronze, they could make iron, though it was still expensive and rare even for the Hittites and their troops mostly used bronze weapons. At their height they controlled most of Anatolia and they fought the Egyptians to a standstill at Kadesh in around 1274BC. Their kingdom dissolved in around 1180BC.
Why did the Hittites take control of the trade routes and metal sources?
In order to prosper, the Hittites had to take control of the trade routes and metal sources. However, Egyptians were not allowing the Hittite Empire to gain more strategic ground.
Which civilization adopted cuneiform script?
As Captivating History writes in the book Hittites: A Captivating Guide to the Ancient Anatolian People Who Established the Hittite Empire in Ancient Mesopotamia, “eventually the Hittites would adopt a cuneiform script from the remnants of Assyrian settlements which stayed after the fall of the larger Assyrian Empire.”
When did the Hittites enter Anatolia?
The Hittites entered Anatolia around 2000 B.C. and their capital would eventually be Hattusha in what is today modern Turkey. It took them about 400 years before they developed. The first ruler of the empire was Hattusili, which meant “the one from Hattusha.”
Why was the Battle of Kadesh important?
Nevertheless, the Battle of Kadesh is highly significant because it led to the world’s first recorded peace treaty.
What do we learn from ancient cuneiform tablets?
It is from these ancient cuneiform tablets that we have learned about the professions, work, religion and various aspects of their daily life.
Where are the Hittite laws found?
The Hittite laws have been preserved on a number of Hittite cuneiform tablets found at Hattusa (CTH 291-292, listing 200 laws). Copies have been found written in Old Hittite as well as in Middle and Late Hittite, indicating that they had validity throughout the duration of the Hittite Empire (ca. 1650–1100 BC). Image via wikipedia
Who were the Hittites responsible for?
The Hittites were partially responsible for bringing about the Iron Age
What were the Hittites' worst crimes?
Hittite fun facts. The Hittites were some of the first people to use iron. The worst crime to commit was the the crime of rebellion. The Hittites worshiped many storm gods and goddesses. The Hittite leader was called "Great Son" or "Great King", and was the military and religious leader. Even slaves had the right to own property.
Overview
The Hittites were an Anatolian people who played an important role in establishing first a kingdom in Kussara (before 1750 BC), then the Kanesh or Nesha kingdom (c. 1750–1650 BC), and next an empire centered on Hattusa in north-central Anatolia (around 1650 BC). This empire reached its height during the mid-14th century BC under Šuppiluliuma I, when it encompassed an area t…
Archaeological discovery
Before the archeological discoveries that revealed the Hittite civilization, the only source of information about the Hittites had been the Old Testament. Francis William Newman expressed the critical view, common in the early 19th century, that, "no Hittite king could have compared in power to the King of Judah...".
As the discoveries in the second half of the 19th century revealed the scale of t…
Geography
The Hittite kingdom was centered on the lands surrounding Hattusa and Neša (Kültepe), known as "the land Hatti" ( Ha-at-ti). After Hattusa was made capital, the area encompassed by the bend of the Kızılırmak River (Hittite Marassantiya) was considered the core of the Empire, and some Hittite laws make a distinction between "this side of the river" and "that side of the river". For example, the re…
History
It is generally assumed that ancestors of the Hittites came into Anatolia some time before 2000 BC, as Hittite language is known to have taken place in Anatolia between 20th and 12th centuries BC. While their earlier location is disputed, it has been speculated by scholars for more than a century that the Yamnaya culture of the Pontic–Caspian steppe, in present-day Ukraine, aroun…
Government
The earliest known Constitutional Monarchy was developed by the Hittites. The head of the Hittite state was the king, followed by the heir-apparent. The king was the supreme ruler of the land, in charge of being a military commander, judicial authority, as well as a high priest. However, some officials exercised independent authority over various branches of the government. One of the m…
Language
The Hittite language is recorded fragmentarily from about the 19th century BC (in the Kültepe texts, see Ishara). It remained in use until about 1100 BC. Hittite is the best attested member of the Anatolian branch of the Indo-European language family, and the Indo-European language for which the earliest surviving written attestation exists, with isolated Hittite loanwords and numero…
Art
Given the size of the empire, there are relatively few remains of Hittite art. These include some impressive monumental carvings, a number of rock reliefs, as well as metalwork, in particular the Alaca Höyük bronze standards, carved ivory, and ceramics, including the Hüseyindede vases. The Sphinx Gates of Alaca Höyük and Hattusa, with the monument at the spring of Eflatun Pınar, ar…
Religion and mythology
Hittite religion and mythology were heavily influenced by their Hattic, Mesopotamian, and Hurrian counterparts. In earlier times, Indo-European elements may still be clearly discerned.
Storm gods were prominent in the Hittite pantheon. Tarhunt (Hurrian's Teshub) was referred to as 'The Conqueror', 'The king of Kummiya', 'King of Heaven', 'L…