The Hittites are thought to have migrated into Anatolia (modern Turkey) at the end of the third millennium BC. By around 1800 BC one Hittite group led by a king named Anitta established control over an area in central Anatolia. During the Old Kingdom (1650-1450 BC), a capital city was established at Hattusha (modern Bogazköy). Hittite kings expanded into northern Syria and in around 1595 BC King Mursili I sacked Aleppo and raided Babylon to the south. However, Mursili was later assassinated and the Hittites suffered a period of decline.

In around 1400 BC a new line of kings came to power and began what is known as the Empire period. In about 1345 BC, under Suppiluliuma I, Hittite control reached its maximum extent in central and south-east Anatolia as well as Syria and along the Eastern Mediterranean as far as Egyptian-controlled territory to the north of Byblos. Conflict with Egypt resulted in a major clash at the battle of Qadesh in 1286 BC until peace was established with the marriage of the daughter of Hattusili III to Ramses II. Around 1200 BC the Hittite Empire rapidly disintegrated, possibly caused by a combination of famine, economic breakdown and social upheaval.