Ramses the Great's Hittite Peace Treaty: The World's First

In Episode 170, Lucas and Luna explore the diplomatic masterpiece that ended decades of war between Egypt and the Hittite Empire: the Treaty of Kadesh, often called the world's first surviving peace treaty. They walk through the crumbling political landscape after the famous battle—neither side had won decisively, and both empires were exhausted. Lucas unpacks the years of back-channel negotiations, the exchange of letters in Akkadian cuneiform, and the key players: Hattusili III, who seized the Hittite throne, and Ramses, who saw a chance for stability. They discuss the treaty's terms—extradition clauses, mutual defense pacts, and the marriage alliance that sealed it—all inscribed on silver tablets and copied onto temple walls at Karnak and Ramesseum. Luna wonders about enforcement, and Lucas explains how the treaty was reinforced by the arrival of a Hittite princess, Maathorneferure, who became Ramses's queen. They also touch on the treaty's legacy: a copy hangs in the United Nations today. The episode ends with a reflection on what peace meant for two ancient superpowers—and what it cost. #RamsesTheGreat #TreatyOfKadesh #HittiteEmpire #HattusiliIII #Maathorneferure #Karnak #Ramesseum #Akkadian #EgyptianHittitePeace #AncientDiplomacy #WorldsFirstPeaceTreaty #SilverTablet #Puduhepa #Kemet #BronzeAge #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo