The Hittites occupied the ancient region of Anatolia (also known as Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey) prior to 1700 BCE, developed a culture apparently from the indigenous Hatti (and possibly the Hurrian) people, and expanded their territories into an empire which rivaled, and threatened, the established nation of Egypt.
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Definition
Timeline
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c. 1700 BCEThe Hittites invade the region of the Hatti and begin a systematic campaign against them. The great city of Hattusa is sacked and destroyed.
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1650 BCEUnder the Hittite Warrior-King Hattusili, campaigns are carried to completion subjugating the Hatti. Hattusa is re-built as the Hittite capital. The Hatti are assimilated into the Hittite culture.
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c. 1600 BCE - c. 800 BCEAleppo is under Hittite control.
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1595 BCEKing Mursilis of the Hittites sacks Babylon. Begin of Babylonian "dark ages."
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1595 BCEHittites under Mursilli I sack Babylon, ending Amorite rule.
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c. 1380 BCEHittite capital, Hattusa, burned to the ground by Kaska invaders.
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c. 1380 BCEFirst instances of iron working in the Hittite Empire.
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1350 BCE - 1250 BCEThe Hittite Empire is at its peak.
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c. 1344 BCE - 1322 BCEKing Suppiluliuma I of the Hittites sacks the Mitanni capital Washukanni and installs Artatama II as vassal king.
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c. 1321 BCEWestern Mittani is conquered by the Hittites.
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c. 1320 BCEThe Hittite king Musili II attacks the Hayasa-Azzi confederation.
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1285 BCEPeak of Hittite power.
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1274 BCEBattle of Kadesh between Pharaoh Ramesses II of Egypt and King Muwatalli II of the Hittites.
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1258 BCEFirst Peace Treaty in the world signed between Ramesses II of Egypt and Hattusili III of the Hittites.
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c. 1245 BCEBattle of Nihriya: Tukulti-Ninurta I of Assyria defeats Tudahalija IV of the Hittites.
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1200 BCELydia arises as a Neo-Hittite kingdom.
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1200 BCEPhrygians invade Anatolia and destroy the Hittite Empire.
