Tanner - Forgotten History: Captivating History Events that Have Been Forgotten

During the late BC years and early into the beginning of the AD years, history would see some of its greatest land conquests, its first peace treaty, and a failed attempt at conquering Germania which would define history to this day.

These are the years where foundations were laid. With the focus being more on modern history thanks to history channels, we are often left oblivious to the importance of historical foundations.

As with any good building, your foundations set the precedents for latter events and ways of life. In this chapter I am going to begin our journey of forgotten historical events by looking at our foundations. We will start with the Battle of Kadesh and progress through to the time of the Roman Empire.

Battle of Kadesh (1275 BC)

After a failed attempt at forming an alliance with Egypt, the Hittite Empire, under the leadership of Subbiluliumas, persuaded Egypts main stronghold in Syria, Ugarit, to ally with them. So began the advances of the Hittites toward Egypt.

By the time Sety I arrived on the scene, Egypt was eager to recover their lost stronghold. As a result, Sety I targeted the Eleutheros Valley, ideal for marching armies due to its level terrain. Kadesh was key to controlling the valley.

The stage was set. All that was needed was an Egyptian pharaoh driven with ambition and youthful arrogance. It was as though the gods were playing a game of chess.

Egypt saw the succession of Rameses II, who was a fine general and leader, not to mention the most well-known pharaoh of Egyptian history, but his ambition often ran rampant, straining resources.

Meanwhile, Muwatallish, Hittite King, was more subdued, preferring to defend his country and rising to action only when necessary.

The gods continued their chess game. Rameses made the first move. He separated his army into four parts before targeting Kadesh. Hittite spies were sent to intercept Rameses with false information under the disguise of Bedouins. Rameses bought into it.

On and on the war raged, seeing around 6,000 chariots plus infantry warring against each other. Each empire faced multiple losses and consequences. Eventually, the two kings decided that enough was enough.

Around 1259 BC, Rameses and Hattusilis drafted a peace treaty, the first of its kind. To seal this treaty, Rameses married Hattusilis daughter. The treaty contained an agreement of mutual military assistance, security for the Hittite Empire if problems arose in Hattusilis succession, and terms regarding fugitives.

In the end, the gods realized that they were well matched in their chess game, thus they concluded the game a draw.

Pax Romana (27 BC to 180 AD)

Julius Cesar was murdered; his adopted son Octavian, soon to be known as Augustus, rose to power over the Roman Empire. By this time, countless revolts, riots, and chaos characterized the Roman regions, causing much stress to their people.

Augustus, perhaps still pained at the loss of his father or outraged at the betrayal against his family through the murder of his father, took drastic measures to secure his empire.

So the Pax Romana, also known as the Roman Peace, was born. For the next 200 years, the Roman Empire would enjoy thriving commerce, economy, arts, and architecture. Social order and border patrols were installed. Finally, Roman citizens could sleep at night knowing that their country would not be overtaken with invasions or turned inside out from internal disputes. Peace reigned in the internal regions of the empire.

Although this era holds the word peace in its title, it was not as peaceful as it seems. Augustus decided that the Roman Empire needed to be expanded. Conquest after conquest ensued. Roman culture and influence began to integrate into the ancient world as the Balkans were overtaken and attempts were made to subdue Germania. Throughout the Pax Romana, the Roman Empire became an empire so large it rivaled that of Alexander the Great.

In 69 AD, the Year of the Four Emperors occurred causing an interruption in the civil order of the Pax Romana. However, this was a minor setback, and the peace continued.

Due to his conquests and ability to ensure order within the Empire, Augustus was revered and worshiped as a god. This birthed the Imperial Cult which brought about the reverence of the Caesars as gods until their death.