Final answer:
The Hittites settled in Anatolia beginning around 1700 BCE, becoming a formidable empire by the 16th century BCE and reaching their peak during the 14th century BCE, notably rivaling Egypt.
Step-by-step explanation:
Settlement of the Hittites in Anatolia
The Hittites, an Indo-European-speaking group, began settling in Anatolia around 1700 BCE. They were likely immigrants who adopted much of the local culture, establishing a dominant presence by 1650 BCE with their capital at Hattusas. Under the leadership of Mursilis around the 16th century BCE, the Hittites expanded their empire across Anatolia and into Syria and Babylonia. The period of their greatest expansion was during the reigns of Tudhaliyas I and Suppiluliumas I in the 14th century BCE, establishing the Hittites as a formidable power in the Near East, rivaling New Kingdom Egypt and engaging in notable conflicts such as the Battle of Qadesh in 1274 BCE.
The Hittite Empire showed a unique adaptability, absorbing the customs, technologies, and religions of the peoples they conquered, which contributed to their success in forming a cultural link between the civilizations of Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean, including the Greeks. This characteristic of the Hittites underscores their importance as a central Bronze Age civilization.