The world's oldest surviving peace treaty was signed in 1259 BCE by Ancient Egypt and the Hittite Empire.

The Treaty of Kadesh was signed approximately 15 years after the massive Battle of Kadesh, which took place in 1274 BCE near the Orontes River in modern-day Syria. This conflict involved an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 chariots, making it one of the largest chariot battles in human history. Despite both sides claiming victory, the war reached a stalemate that lasted for years.The final peace agreement was negotiated in 1259 BCE between the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II and the Hittite King Hattusili III. It was inscribed on silver tablets, though only clay and stone copies survived to the modern era. Two versions of the text exist: one in Egyptian hieroglyphs at the Temple of Karnak and the Ramesseum, and another in Akkadian cuneiform found in the Hittite capital of Hattusa.This document is historically significant because it is the only ancient Near Eastern treaty for which both sides' versions have been recovered. It went beyond a simple ceasefire by establishing a 'parity treaty' where both monarchs recognized each other as equals. The agreement included a mutual defense pact against internal and external enemies and specific humanitarian clauses regarding the fair treatment of extradited political refugees.In 1970, the Turkish government presented a copper-plated clay replica of the Akkadian version to the United Nations. It is currently displayed outside the Security Council chamber in New York City. This artifact serves as a reminder that the principles of international cooperation and conflict resolution date back over 3,000 years.