Mining reached its peak of development in Anatolia during the Early Bronze Age. Major developments were observed in Northern Anatolia towards the end of this period.

Between 2000BC and 1750BC Assyrian merchants from northern Mesopotamia formed the first commercial organizations by establishing trade colonies in Anatolia. The center of these colonies was at Kanesh Kharum near Kültepe in Kayseri province. Another important commercial market place referred in documents is the Kharum Hattush at Bogazköy.

Anatolia was rich in gold, silver and copper, but lacked tin, essential for the manufacturing of bronze as an alloy. For this reason tin was one of the major trading materials, as well as textile goods and perfumes. The merchants had no political dominance, but were protected by the regional Beys.

Fortunately for the Assyrian merchants, writing was seen for the first time in Anatolia. From the 2Cappadocia tablets", cuneiform clay tablets on which ancient Assyrian was written, it has been learned that merchants paid a 10% road tax to the Bey, received a 30% interest for their debths, and paid a 5% tax to the Anatolian kings for goods they sold. The same tablets tell us that they sometimes married Anatolian women, and the marriage agreements contained clauses to protect the women from their husbands.

Assyrian merchants also introduced cylinder seals, meatallurgy, their religious beliefs, Gods and temples to Anatolia. Native Anatolian art flourished under the influence of Assyrian Mesopotamic art, eventually developing an identity of its own. During the following ages this developed into the fundamentals of Hittite art.