At the end of the Late Bronze Age, the Hittites created a successful Empire and ranked among the ... more At the end of the Late Bronze Age, the Hittites created a successful Empire and ranked among the most powerful players in the international diplomatic club of rulers. Our current understanding of the Hittite Empire is limited by the textually based focus on the "hard power" of Empire; namely military encounters and political organization. The present study expands our view of the nature of the Hittite Empire and its influence abroad through the perspective of socio-cultural and economic exchanges as reflected in the archaeological record. Defined as non-coercive acts of intercultural contact, the notion of exchange replaces a trade-centered approach and takes into account differing levels of political and cultural integration. Such an approach allows for fresh perspectives on the impact of Hittite imperial rule and the mechanisms of imperial power. In particular this study explores the "soft power" that served as an adjunct to diplomatic maneuvering and military might. iv
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Papers by Susan Helft