Final answer:
The Hittites kept their iron production formula a closely guarded secret, which provided them with a military advantage during their time. This secretive stance contrasts with their inclusive practices of adopting various other cultural and technological advances from conquered peoples.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Hittites were known for their military prowess and for adopting technologies and customs from the people they conquered or came in contact with, including various technological advancements. However, when it comes to iron production, the Hittites kept their formula to produce iron a closely guarded secret. This strategic advantage allowed them to maintain military superiority for a period since iron was a stronger and more abundant resource than bronze, which was the predominant metal used prior to the Iron Age.
Iron was a valuable resource that proved to be much stronger than bronze when properly worked with, and the technique of producing it, which included steeling, quenching, and tempering, represented a significant technological advance. While the Hittites did not open up their knowledge readily, their ability to harness the power of iron made their warfare capabilities far superior during their time. The Hittites' secretive approach towards their ironworking technology highly contrasts with their otherwise inclusive and adoptive cultural practices.