Final answer:
The Hittite kingdom developed on the land known as Anatolia, which is today's Turkey. This empire arose in the Bronze Age, around 1700 BCE, and expanded to include parts of Mesopotamia, Syria, and Canaan. It emphasized small rural communities, had a unique religious system, and eventually fell around 1200 BCE after signing a peace treaty with Egypt.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hittite Kingdom and Its Territory
The Hittite kingdom grew on the landmass known as Anatolia, which constitutes the modern-day country of Turkey. The Hittites established a formidable empire beginning in approximately 1700 BCE, during the Bronze Age, and expanded rapidly after achieving economic success. Their empire at its peak included regions in Mesopotamia, Syria, and Canaan, aside from Anatolia. In the mid-fourteenth century BCE, under King Suppiluliumas I, it rivaled other powerful states like New Kingdom Egypt, culminating in the notable Battle of Qadesh in 1274 BCE.
Hattusas served as the capital of the empire, and unlike neighboring empires with many large urban areas, the Hittite society primarily consisted of small rural communities. Most land in these villages was held in common and worked by the locals, with an increase in enslaved individuals later on due to wars. Following a protracted stalemate with the Egyptians, the Hittites signed a historic peace treaty in 1258 BCE. However, the empire fell shortly after, around 1200 BCE, leaving behind a unique history that included practices such as chattel slavery and a distinctive religious system influenced by various traditions, including Mesopotamia's.