Hattusa

The first evidence of permanent human occupation on the site dates back to the early Bronze Age, BC 2500. The first settlers were a very advanced people whom the Akkadians called the Hatti. In the early 17th century BC, the lands of Hatti were conquered by a warrior race from southern Europe or the Caucasus. These invaders who in time came to be known as the Hittites, established themselves in the fortress-city that they called Hattusa and adopted much of the culture of their predecessors. Hattusa became the Hittite capital city in the 17th century BC, and the first Hittite king called himself Hattusili- from Hattusa. It remained the Hittite capital until the 12th century BC, when the city was invaded by hostile forces thought to be from the Black Sea area, burnt down and ransacked.