Product Description

The Hittites were an Indo-European speaking people who established a kingdom in Anatolia (modern Turkey) almost 4,000 years ago. They rose to become one of the greatest powers of the Ancient Middle Eastern world by conquering Babylon and challenging the power of the Eygptian Pharaoh Rameses II at the battle of Quadesh. They themselves were destroyed in the wake of movements of the enigmatic Sea peoples around 1180 BC. This study investigates the origins of the Hittites, the sources of the metals that were so vital to their success and their relationship with contemporaries in the Aegean world, the Trojans and the Mycenaean Greeks. It includes descriptions of excavations, particularly at the temples and great defensive ramparts of the Hittite capital at Hattusas.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #135622 in Books
• Published on: 1996-04-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Customer Reviews

A Good, Affordable Introduction that's Slightly Dated
Originally published in 1976, 'The Hittites and their Contemporaries in Asia Minor' is a classic text that still stands up well to this day. Although much has been discovered in Hittite archaeology since the book's original publication, this is still the most easily accessible title on these fascinating ancient people outside of expensive academic titles. If you can afford it, It would be worth getting Trevor Bryce's up-to-date work on the Hittite Empire, but if you don't have the money, then this is the best alternative.

J.G Macqueen has given the book a slight update since 1996, and in a brief paragraph at the book's introduction, he does give the reader an overview of the discoveries made between 1976 and 1996. Everything from that year to our own has not been covered. Macqueen traces the history of the Hittites from their first arrival in Anatolia as a possible migratory people, to their subsequent takeover of Hattian culture, and their rise to becoming the dominant people of Asia Minor. Along the way he gives us the archaeological background of Anatolia, from Neolithic settlements at Catal Huyuk, to a discussion on the Hattian people. He then takes us on a short tour of Hittite history, through the reigns of some of its kings such as Hattusilis I, Suppiluliumas I, Mursilis II, Muwatallis etc. He also explains the importance of tin to the Hittite economy, as well as attempting to reconstruct Anatolian geography from the Hittite texts.

From this point he covers chapters on Warfare and Defence (including a look at Hattusha's fortifications), Society and Administration (village life and government), Daily life in late Bronze Age Anatolia, religion (the gods and rituals), art and literature (which includes brief translations of Hittite prayers), and a look at the peoples and empires that followed the fall of Hatti.

The fall of the Hittite Empire is a matter of great debate among scholars, and Macqueen takes the view they were overrun by the Sea Peoples, a view that has been criticised in recent times. Evidence now shows that the Hittites abandoned Hattusha, but nobody knows where they went. This is the only section of the book that is rather dated, but the book is still useful and informative.

The book is short, well written and illustrated with 149 black and white photographs, as well as maps and diagrams. My only criticism of the diagrams is that the ones on Hittite pottery don't actually name the different types, which is difficult to follow when the author describes them in the text. Other than that, the diagrams and photographs are great. In conclusion, if you want a short, affordable introduction to the Hittites, this is the best available even if it is slightly dated. Recommended!

Not as good as Bryce, but solid 1970's work
Macqueen's book is from 1975, and some of his speculation has now been replaced with new data in the past 30 years. Nonetheless, the book has technically solid information sourced from inscriptions. etc..
The Hittites were feared for the mayhem wrought by their ferocious charioteers during the mid 2nd millennium iron age; and their true origin and identity is still sketchy.
They were of Indo-European descent, possibly of Balkan/Thracian origin.
As with the (later) Spartans, they seemed unduly obsessed with military matters & trade dominance and left little by way of art or literature. Their sculptures were prosaic. However they were able to overwhelm the mighty Egyptian Empire itself. Placenames such as Hattusa, Arzawa, Wilusa, Nesa, Karchemish and Kadesh (Syria) the site of a key battle, will be known to students of the period.
If the OUP prices were less exorbitant, readers would no doubt benefit more fully from Bryce's more recent offerings.

Good for the price, but dated
This book is excellent value, has a lot of photos, but lacks decent maps. Slightly let down the the author not attempting to fill in any historical gaps himself. Gives a good basic history of the Hittites but a lot more has been found about them since this book was published in the 70s.