The history of Kültepe spans from the Early Bronze Age to the Roman period, but its "Golden Age" was the Assyrian Trade Colony Period (c. 1950–1750 BC). During this time, Kanesh was the "headquarters" for all Assyrian merchants in Anatolia. They brought tin and expensive textiles from the south and traded them for Anatolian silver, gold, and copper.
The tablets found here are unique because they aren't just official state records; they are private letters. We read about merchants complaining about taxes, wives asking their husbands to come home, and entrepreneurs asking for loans. This makes Kültepe the birthplace of the Middle Class and private enterprise in the region.
Kültepe is also critical to the history of the Hittites. It was from Kanesh that the early Hittite kings (like Anitta) began their expansion, eventually creating the great empire that would rule all of Anatolia. Today, the site is a candidate for the UNESCO World Heritage list, standing as a monument to the dawn of civilization.