Below is the ninth in a series of articles from Mark McLaughlin showcasing the 16 civilizations in Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East. You can find the first eight articles in the series here.
The Mittani civilization which began in what is now modern-day Syria was a major if short-lived player in the game of empires of the Fertile Crescent. Literally caught in the middle where Assryia, Egypt, and the Hittites met, the Mittani were experts at playing them off against each other. Expert horse breeders and masters of training horses for war, the Mittani were especially feared for their powerful chariot corps. The Mittani reached their zenith when they sacked Assur in the late 1400s BC – but were overrun and utterly destroyed by the Hittites a century later.
In the game, the Mittani are a powerful military civilization. They not only have two white disks to use in Competition (representing their war horses and chariot corps) but also can hold a seventh card in their hand, provided at least one of those seven is a Competition Card. Other civilizations may hold only six cards. Their central position offers the Mittani many choices for expansion – yet also recreates their vulnerability for being located in the middle of things, with potential enemies on all sides.
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
Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East: Meet the Babylonians
Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East: Meet the Hittites
Author: Mark McLaughlin
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