Asia Minor was densely populated in the Palaeolithic Age (early Stone Age). In the fourth to third millenniums B.C. one can make a distinction between two cultural societies in Anatolia: the West with Troy and the islands just off the coast (old Trojan culture), and the highland of Alacahöyük ( High Anatolian culture).

The Hitite Empire

In 2000 B.C. Indo-Germanic Hittites were pressed forward in saveral waves from the north east to Asia Minor, and they eventually established their empire in the 15th century B.C. under the rule of their leader Labarnas. Hattuşa (now Boğazkale) was their capital. In the battle of Kadesh, Hittites gained a victory over the Egyptians during the reign of Ramses. Later on, the Hittites gradually collapsed however and Hattuş a was eventually burnt down.

From the period of the martime nations up until Alexander the Great

Asia Minor was conquered by small national ynities. In the East the Assyrians were pressed forward to Taurus, in the West and in the interior, the Indo-German origin Phrygians settled down and adopted Gordion as their capital. At the sametime, the colonization of the Greeks started. The cities of the Aegean region like Miletos, Ephesus and others, gained significance. The Lydians established their empire, the Greek city states excepting Miletos, being under their supervision in the 7th century B.C. Later on the Persians developed as a great power in Anatolia in the 6th century B.C. They rulled for 200 years and caused many wars in the area.

All of the structures in the picture are foundations of a very ancient city. They extend for miles from the top of the hill down to the bottom of the valley. The city was founded around 1800 BC.

The ruins run down to the modern buildings with red tile roofs.

The fertile fields of the valley fed the population of Hattusas (or Hattush), which is estimated to have been over 20,000.

The city temples at the top of the hill were surrounded by a fortress wall.

The stones are carved and fit much like the stones in the South American city of Machuu Pichuu.

These reliefs are carved in a narrow canyon in the hills across the valley from the city.

They depict many of the Hittite gods and record the notable events of their god / kings.

The Hittite museum in Ankara has marvelous exhibits of artifacts showing the Hittites to be astoundingly advanced. They were contemporaries of ancient Egypt in culture as well as time.

This is one of over 2,300 cuneiform clay tables recovered from the library at Hattusas. The tablet was inscribed when the clay was wet. It was then baked to preserve it (stone tablets??). The baked tablet was then wrapped in a clay envelope which was inscribed with a description of the contents. The whole was then again baked to preserve the envelope. This piece shows the envelope partially broken open, exposing the tablet inside

In the museum are carved wooden chairs that could rival French provincial furniture. There is also several toys; one a finely crafted horse drawn chariot with wheels that roll.

The exhibit gives one an understanding that ancient civilizations, while being VERY old, were not primitive.

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