Hatti

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The Hatti were an aboriginal people in central Anatolia who first appear in the area around the River Kizil Irmak. They spoke a language called Hattic and did not seem to have a written language of their own, using cuneiform script for trade dealings. Controlling a significant number of city states and small kingdoms, they had established trade with Sumer by the year 2700 BCE.

In 2500 BCE the Hatti established their capital at the city of Hattusa (in present-day Turkey) and held lands securely in the surrounding areas, administering laws and regulating trade in a number of neighboring states. Between circa 2334-2279 BCE the great Sargon of Akkad invaded the region and, in 2330, sacked the city of Ur. He then turned his attention to Hattusa but failed to gain an advantage over the city’s defenses (which were especially strong in that it was located high on a plateau). Following Sargon’s campaigns in the region, his grandson Naram-Suen continued his policies, fighting against the Hattic King Pamba late in the 23rd century BCE with as little success as his grandfather had. In spite of the constant harrassment from the Akkadians, Hattic art flourished around 2200 BCE and, by 2000 BCE, their civilization was at its height with trading colonies established by the Assyrians at Hattusa and the city of Kanesh.

In the mid-eighteenth century BCE, the region was again invaded, this time by the Hittites, and the great city of Hattusa was stormed and destroyed. Over the next century the lands of the Hatti were systematically conquered by the Hittites and the people assimilated into the culture of their conquerors. In 1650 BCE the Hittites, under their warrior-king Hattusili, defeated the last of the Hatti resistance and rose to complete dominance of the area. The Hatti region of Anatolia, however, was still known as the 'Land of the Hatti' until 630 BCE, such references found in the writings of both the Egyptians and the Assyrians. The artistic renderings of the time depict the common people with longer noses and markedly different facial features than those of their leaders, clearly demonstrating the Hittite lords and their Hattic vassals.

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Articles

Article

History of the Hittites

by Jan van der Crabben
published on 18 January 2012
Hittites is the conventional English-language term for an ancient people who spoke an Indo-European language and established a kingdom centered in Hattusa (Hittite URUḪattuša) in northern Anatolia from the 18th century BC. In the 14th century BC, the Hittite Kingdom was at its height, encompassing central Anatolia, south-western Syria as far... [continue reading]
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Map of the ancient Near East during the Amarna Period Map of Mesopotamia, c. 1400 BC

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  • Harold L Carter wrote on 07 May 2012 at 07:47:

    The most scholarly and comprehensive historical description of the Hatti and the Hittites and their relationships to each other in the Ancient World that I have come across in my research on those population groups in Ancient History. Any findings or information on the origin and geographical location of the aboriginal Hattians prior to their arrival in Anatolia would also be very helpful.

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Timeline

Visual Timeline
  • 2700 BCE
    Hatti people establish trade with the city of Sumer.
  • 2500 BCE
    The city of Hattusa is established as Hattic capital of surrounding city-states.
  • c. 2320 BCE
    Sargon of Akkad invades the Hattic region, fails to take Hattusa.
  • c. 2200 BCE
    The Hattic King Pamba repulses the campaigns of Sargon's grandson, the Akkadian King Naram-Suen.
  • c. 2200 BCE
    Art flourishes in the Hattic city states.
  • c. 2000 BCE
    The culture of the Hatti reaches its height.
  • c. 1750 BCE
    The Hittites invade the region of the Hatti and begin a systematic campaign against them. The great city of Hattusa is sacked and destroyed.
  • 1650 BCE
    Under 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.