ConflictThe Middle East

The battle of Kadesh

1,275 BCE

The first peace treaty whose text we still have

In depth

Kadesh is the earliest battle we can reconstruct in detail, because Ramesses had his version carved on several temples. That version is transparent propaganda: the pharaoh alone against whole armies. The treaty that followed, by contrast, is sober and reciprocal, with mutual extradition of fugitives and a clause on military aid. A copy hangs in the United Nations building in New York.

For children

Egypt and the Hittite empire met with thousands of chariots in Syria. Both sides afterwards claimed victory. Fifteen years later they made peace — and we have the treaty in both Egyptian and Hittite, with almost identical wording.

Connects to

The Hittite empire1,651 BCE – 1,181 BCE
Ramesses II1,280 BCE – 1,214 BCE
The United Nations is foundedOct 24, 1945

Part of Terra Saga — the story of Earth on a timeline. terrasaga.org