The Hittites

The Hittites lived more than 3,000 years ago. Their home was in a land we now call Turkey. They built a big empire in the middle of Asia Minor. The Hittites were known for their chariots and for being among the first to use iron.

The Hittite Empire

The Hittites had their capital city in a place called Hattusa. It was built on hills with strong stone walls. At its biggest, the Hittite Empire spread across a large part of the Middle East. They fought wars with Egypt and other neighbors. Kings ruled the empire with help from many officials.

The Battle of Kadesh

One of the most famous Hittite battles was at Kadesh. They fought the Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II about 3,300 years ago. Both sides used thousands of chariots in the fight. No one really won the battle. Later, the Hittites and Egyptians signed one of the first peace treaties in history.

Fun Facts

• The Hittites were among the first to learn how to make iron tools.
• Their capital city Hattusa had walls over 4 miles long.
• The Hittite peace treaty with Egypt is the oldest one we still have.

Did You Know?

The Hittite language was forgotten for thousands of years until people figured out how to read it again in the 1900s.