Economic Activities in Late Hittites Period in the Region between Taurus Mountain and Amanos

Abstract

A new political structuring constituted by city states independent of each other is seen in Anatolia and North Syria after downfall of Hittite State in the years 1200 B.C. It is accepted that these city states which constituted their own cultural and economical structure in time were continuation of the Hittites. By their own geopolitical posititon, they are at the key point between Anatolia-MesopotamiaNorth Syria-East Mediterranean. Especially, passageways on Taurus Mountains and Amanos Mountains have important roles for interzonal interaction. Because of this reason, the region has gained importance as political and economical. The region which was wealthy in terms of mainly iron, copper, lead, zinc, silver has caused Assyria and strong states as Urartu contemporary of Assyria, Phrygia to organize regular campaigns. Written sources about the campaigns that were organized to the region by Assyria- taxes called as tributes taken as a result of the campaigns- have importance in terms of understanding economical activities of the region.