Agriculture in Hittite economy

In the 17th century B.C., the Hittites, who settled in the north of Central Anatolia along the curve of the Kızılırmak River, whose Hittite name is "Marasantiya", became a great empire by expanding their religious and administrative centers from the capital Hattusa to the west and south. The economy of the state, which is ruled by the royal family, consists largely of agriculture. With the agricultural production carried out in the Hittite lands, the economic development of the state became possible. In the Central Anatolian plateau, where the Hittites settled, the climate was almost at a level close to the present day. Therefore, the agricultural products grown in these lands mainly consist of wheat, barley, rye and oats. The frequent mention of these products in cuneiform documents proves this situation. For this reason, it has become inevitable that a state that is highly dependent on the land has created sensitive policies in the agricultural field. The numerical number of articles of the Hittite law starting with "if a vineyard" is official proof of how meticulous the state was about agriculture. With the "Edict of Telipinu" published during the reign of King Telipinu, important measures were taken in the name of agricultural production. Telipinu made important decisions about the collection and storage of grain with his edict. In addition to the legal measures taken regarding agriculture in the Hittite state, there were also some actions. Water structures, especially those built-in relation to agricultural production, are important for us to better understand the state's agricultural policy. Because the agriculture carried out in the Hittite lands is largely dependent on rainfall. It is aimed to eliminate a possible drought scenario with the water structures built. In the Hittite culture and civilization, the influence of agriculture is felt intensely. The fact that the festivals in the Hittite culture were themed on agriculture, grain and harvest is an important indicator of this. With the holidays, it was hoped that a fruitful harvest period would take place in the Hittite lands. In this way, as a result of the increases in agricultural production, the warehouses will be filled and economic prosperity will come to the country. In the Hittite religion, the influence of agriculture is felt intensely. The Storm God, the chief god in the Hittite pantheon, is the owner of the lands in the Hittite Country. God has given this authority to the king. The king, on the other hand, with this authority, ensures the uninterrupted progress of agricultural production by donating or allocating the lands in the Hittite lands to the people. In addition, the legend of "Telipinu, the Disappearing God", belonging to Telipinu, the god of agriculture in the Hittites, is important in terms of depicting the seasons we know from the Hittite calendar and the revival of nature. Therefore, the intense agricultural effect in all areas of life, especially in the economy, could only be achieved by building a systematic agricultural production organization in the country and establishing a good administrative mechanism. This situation was made possible by the realization of an intensive agricultural activity in the Hittite country in the period from the emergence of the Hittites from the stage of history to the process of separation.