CAS HI 101 Lecture 3: 3 The Fall and Rise of An Imperial Near East
16 Oct 2016
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The fall and rise of an imperial near east: from the fertile crescent to the mediterranean. Based in anatolia at huttashaa, sought control of syrian territory in 14th c. Loose co(cid:374)trol o(cid:448)er its possessio(cid:374)s; (cid:862)great ki(cid:374)g(cid:863) ruled o(cid:374) behalf of the storm god, but spoke of the hittites" (cid:1005),(cid:1004)(cid:1004)(cid:1004) gods. Engaged in constant diplomacy with egypt and assyria to maintain a balance of power; King made his progress through his territory visibility conferred legitimacy. Key tie to his followers was a loyalty oath to the storm god that officials and soldiers had to take. King was sole land owner, but distributed land to soldiers and officials in exchange for their service and supply of soldiers. Success and failure in war was tied to personal holiness and purification of the king: plague and defeat were seen as results of his impurity and required special rituals of purity.
