What is the Earliest Known Peace Treaty?
The Treaty of Kadesh, signed around 1259 BC between the Egyptian Empire under Ramesses II and the Hittite Empire under Hattusili III, is the earliest peace treaty in history for which we have surviving versions from both sides. It ended a long war between the two superpowers of the time. The treaty text, recorded in hieroglyphs and cuneiform, outlines a mutual non-aggression pact and defensive alliance. It demonstrates advanced diplomacy in the ancient world, where two rival powers recognized the futility of continued conflict and agreed to coexist.
Why it matters
This treaty represents a pivotal moment in human history where diplomacy triumphed over war, establishing a precedent for international relations that resonates to this day.
1) When was the Treaty of Kadesh signed?
The Battle of Kadesh took place in 1274 BCE, but the treaty was negotiated and ratified 15 years later.
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian–Hittite_peace_treaty
2) Where can you see the Treaty of Kadesh today?
A replica of the clay tablet is displayed at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, as a symbol of early international diplomacy.
3) What languages was the Treaty of Kadesh written in?
The original drafts used different regional standards, but surviving texts appear in Egyptian hieroglyphics on temple walls and in Akkadian cuneiform on clay tablets.
Source: historyguild.org/the-battle-of-kadesh-and-the-worlds-first-peace-treaty