4. What was the role of the monarch

The role of the monarch in Hittite society was given ownership of all the land under the kingdom's control. Unlike the Sumerians and Amorites where private property was allowed and the monarch had his own property, the Hittite monarch owned all of it. People within the society were allowed to control their own land if they were in the army, but it still belonged to the king. Most of the population became tenant farmers. The monarch was able to assign who ruled each government within the kingdom. The rulers assigned were always part of the ruling family. Each noble held his own land with his own tenant farmers who paid rent to use the land. The land was able to be passed on through generations or sold, but the king had to approve the new owner before the land was used.

Hattusilis: the founder of the Hittite kingdom

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information from Manual pages 107 and 111

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By Hannah Cohen