The Hittites rose to power in the 14th century BC in the Near East, surpassing other kingdoms like Mitanni and Egypt. Their kingdom, Hatti, controlled a vast network of vassal states from Anatolia to Mesopotamia. The book explores how the Hittites achieved supremacy, maintained it, and eventually collapsed. Hittitology, a new field, has revealed the true extent of their influence, challenging previous assumptions about their significance.