THE RURAL COMMUNITY AS A FORM OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN THE HITTITE KINGDOM

Abstract

This article examines the structure and role of the village community as a form of local governance in the Hittite Kingdom (c. XVII–XIII centuries BCE). Drawing on Hittite legal texts, royal instructions, diplomatic documents, and archaeological evidence, it explores how village communities functioned as both social and administrative units. The study emphasizes the continuity of pre-state organizational forms within the Hittite imperial system, highlighting the coexistence of communal land tenure, local leadership, and obligations to the central authority.

The research applies a comparative approach, situating the Hittite village community alongside similar structures in other Ancient Near Eastern states, such as Egypt and Mesopotamia. The findings demonstrate that Hittite villages retained significant autonomy in daily administration, dispute resolution, and ritual activities, while simultaneously fulfilling economic, military, and fiscal obligations imposed by the monarchy. This dual role facilitated the integration of local communities into a centralized state without undermining their traditional social cohesion.

Special attention is given to the gradual incorporation of village governance into the Hittite administrative system, differentiating between inner provinces, where integration was more complete, and frontier districts, where local autonomy persisted to ensure military readiness and social stability. The article also discusses the legal framework that regulated the relationship between the central authority and local communities, illustrating the pragmatic balance between royal control and traditional practices.

Overall, this study contributes to a better understanding of the Hittite political and social system, demonstrating how ancient states adapted pre-existing communal institutions to strengthen centralized governance while maintaining local identity. The Hittite model reveals a unique form of governance in the Ancient Near East, characterized by the synthesis of pre-state communal structures and imperial administration.

Keywords: Hittite kingdom; rural community; local government; Hittite border regions; Asiatic mode of production.