The Hittite Empire, an iron empire that suddenly disappeared into clay tablets.
After 3000 years, the historical seal is broken!
Finally, about the Hittites being introduced in Korea
The most up-to-date, comprehensive, and systematic history

Recently, interest in the Hittite Empire, the world's first iron empire, has grown more than ever in Korea.
To commemorate the first anniversary of the Gaya Tombs being listed as a World Heritage Site, the first Hittite artifact exhibition in Korea is being held, and content on the Hittite theme is actively being featured on YouTube and various broadcasting media, attracting the attention of history enthusiasts.

The recently published "History of the Hittite Empire" is a comprehensive and systematic history book that explains the entire Hittite Empire based on the most up-to-date historical materials and research.
The Hittites were an ancient state that ruled the area of ​​present-day Turkey and Syria from the 17th century BC to the 12th century BC and led the international order. Along with Egypt and Assyria, they were one of the three great empires and hegemons of the ancient Orient world.
It demonstrated outstanding diplomatic prowess and global leadership by concluding the world's first peace treaty, and was the oldest and largest political system to emerge from ancient Anatolia.
It was also a cultural empire with the oldest written records of the Indo-European language family, massive temple buildings, and its own legal code.
These characteristics make the Hittites an interesting and mysterious empire, often described as the "first" and "largest."
But how did this splendid empire become almost completely forgotten by history until the 20th century?

There are only three books on the Hittites in Korea, and only one on Hittite history was published about 20 years ago.
This is why the publication of “History of the Hittite Empire” is significant.
This book vividly and engagingly brings the forgotten Hittite empire back to life, drawing on the latest research and data, and providing readers with a fresh introduction to its dazzling history.
It will also remind us of the true value of history books and remind modern readers of the profound meaning they hold.


《History of the Hittite Empire》 is the third book in 'The Forest History', which opens the door to lost civilizations and history, following 《History of Babylon》 and 《History of Byzantium》.

In the ancient Orient world, the Hittites were like Egypt or Assyria.
It was a political entity that expanded its diplomatic and political influence through treaties, alliances, and coalitions, as well as cultural exchanges with regional powers, while also developing military power to challenge powers like Babylon.
The reason why we, living in an age of uncertainty regarding the future international order, need to understand the Hittites, which contain a message for the times, can be found in this context.
This book explores the connection between the Hittite civilization and the Old Testament in relation to Hittite history, and is expected to respond to the intellectual curiosity of both Christians and the general public who seek to understand the Hittites within the context of biblical history and secular literature.

---From the Korean edition review

Tudhaliya I, known as the father of the revival of the Hittite Empire, is said to have been particularly successful in the west after conducting active expeditions immediately after ascending to the throne, securing 600 chariots and over 10,000 prisoners.
Thanks to this, the Hittite Empire expanded its power to the Aegean Sea.

---From "Tudhaliya I, who made Kijuwatna a protectorate"

Wheat was primarily processed into bread.
Hittite written sources mention 146 types of bread, varying in raw grain, degree of grinding, additives, seasonings, size, shape, and color.
There are practical breads, such as dried bread suitable for workers' and soldiers' lunch boxes, as well as decorative breads, such as breads shaped like animals or gods for use in rituals, which shows how much the Hittites loved bread.
Even today, the taste of Turkish bread is famous, and it seems that the love of bread from our distant ancestors has continued to this day.

---From "The Hittites Who Valued Cows and Loved Bread"

Hattusili's greatest achievement was concluding a peace treaty with Egypt (Ramses II), with whom he had long been in conflict over Syria, and strengthening the bond through a political marriage.
Queen Puduhepa also seems to have contributed to improving relations between the two great powers by exchanging letters with Ramses separately.
Hattusili's challenge to the 'diplomatic revolution' of promising peace with Egypt may have been to counter the rising powers of Assyria in the south and Ahiya in the west, with whom relations had deteriorated.

---From "Signing the World's First Peace Treaty with Egypt"

The Hittites remained in an indirect rule, concluding treaties with vassal states and recognizing a certain degree of independence.
This is in contrast to Egypt's attempts to partially control its vassal states, such as by sending governors to Syria and Palestine and bringing young people there to Egypt for education.

---From "A Surprising Proposal from Tutankhamun's Wife"

The last written documents in Hittite disappear around 1180 BC.
After that, the only relic that tells us about the history of the Hittite Empire is the inscription about the 'War with the Sea Peoples' left by Ramses III of Egypt, an ally of the Hittites, at Medinat Habu (a temple dedicated to Ramses III).

---From "Civil War, Independence of Colonial States, and the Great Drought"

Although later Hittite states remained in Anatolia, they eventually came under the rule of Assyrian kings.
Later, both the countries that inherited the Hittite traditions and the Hittite culture itself disappeared around the 7th century BC.
The first merchants to introduce writing to Anatolia were Assyrians, but it was also the Assyrians who destroyed the Hittite culture that had emerged in Anatolia.

---From "Later Hittite States Annexed by Assyria"

The Hittite Code, which was more of a collection of case laws than a code of laws, differed significantly from the well-known Code of Hammurabi (c. 1750 BC).
First of all, there is no law that allows for revenge by the same means, and the overall weight is placed on compensation for the victim (the amount of compensation for bodily harm between free people is 20 shekels).
However, the verdict varied depending on the status or severity of the crime.

---From "The Hittite Code, Covering Everything from the Price of Goods to Civil and Criminal Law"

As we enter the imperial period, or New Kingdom period, and especially in the later 13th century BC, the frequency of references to iron in documents increases dramatically.
Not only has the frequency of mentions increased, but the types of iron products mentioned have also diversified.
Beyond decorative items such as animal or human figures, practical items such as swords, daggers, and spearheads began to appear.

---From "Iron used for decoration like gold or jewels"

The excavations at Kushakl revealed for the first time the complete ruins of a Hittite city other than Boazköy, and provided a wealth of information about Hittite life and technology.
Thanks to the application of this achievement to other sites including Boazköy, it was possible to reveal the existence of a water supply system including aqueducts and reservoirs in Boazköy.

---Among “cities with water supply facilities such as waterworks and reservoirs”

In 1893, the French excavator Ernest Chantre conducted excavations at Alajahöyük, Boazköy, and Kültepe.
At this time, clay tablets written in an unknown language were discovered in Boazköy.
It was an indecipherable document, written in cuneiform script like the already deciphered Akkadian and Babylonian, so it could be read, that is, pronounced, but the meaning was unknown.
It was the moment when Hittite cuneiform first appeared in the world.

---From “From the excavation of cuneiform to the successful decipherment of Hittite”