Below is the eighth in a series of articles from Mark McLaughlin showcasing the 16 civilizations in Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East. You can find the first seven articles in the series here.
While my father was in the country of Karkamis he sent Lupakkish and Teshub-Zalmash to the country of Amqa. They left; they ravaged the country of Amqa and brought back to my father prisoners and cattle large and small.
King Mursili II (Mursilis Iil 1321-1295 BC) of the Hittites writing about his the generals his father (Suppiluliuma I) sent on campaign near the modern border of Turkey and Syria.
The Hittites were such a “lost civilization” that for over 2,000 years they were assumed to little more than some minor hill tribe of little consequence. Then, however, archaeologists discovered the ruins of a majestic fortress in the remote mountains of central Anatolia. Buried in those ruins were tens of thousands of clay tablets which, when eventually deciphered, told the story of an empire so important and powerful that it defeated Pharoah Ramses II at the epic chariot battle of Kadesh. The Hittites stopped the northward advance of Egypt, overcame the Mittani, swept through the Assyrians and brought Babylon to its knees. The Hittites weathered many invasions by barbarians from the north as well as the Sea Peoples, but their empire fell from within, weakened by plague (brought home by captives), fractured by regicide, and torn apart by civil war.
In the game, the Hittites can take comfort in having a secure homeland – Hattusha. Its mighty, massive walls reduce the impact of cards played against it, and as it is a mountain area its defense is further augmented with a Stronghold cube. The Hittites can also bring a white disk into any land Competition – including the defense of Hattusha, making it even harder for an enemy to take – unless, of course, they have the Traitor card.
Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East: Meet the Sumerians
Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East: Meet the Egyptians
Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East: Meet the Elamites
Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East: Meet the Assyrians
Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East: Meet the Akkadians
Author: Mark McLaughlin
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