HiST 201 Essay 2: What was History to the First Historians? Comparing Herodotus and Thucydides

Today’s Topics (10/8):

Time

Anatolian Geopolitics, Troy, and the Iliad

Essay 2

Introduction to Unit 2

Visual and dramatic storytelling

Anatolia and Greece in the 6th century BCE

For Next Class: READ: Herodotus Histories book 1, chapters 1-130

Example of how to break up next week’s reading

Tuesday 10/9 Read Herodotus Histories 1.1-25 (8 pages, 20 – 30 minutes)

Wednesday 10/10 Read Herodotus Histories 1.26-94 (23 pages, 50 – 70 minutes)

Friday 10/12 Read Herodotus Histories 1.94-130 (10 pages, 25 – 35 minutes)

Monday 10/15 Review your reading guide before class so you’re ready for discussion (15 minutes)

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Unit 1: What is a Historical Event: Homer, Archaeology, and the Trojan War Timeline

L A T E B R O N Z E A G E

(1600 – 1100 BCE)

I R O N A G E

(1100 – 800 BCE)

EARLY ARCHAIC PERIOD

(800 – 650 BCE)

Greek alphabet invented between

c. 800-750 BCE

Grave Circle A burials Mycenae

c. 1550 – 1450 BCE

Palaces on Greek mainland c. 1400 - 1200 BCE

Linear B Tablets c. 1400 - 1200 BCE

Tholos tombs at Mycenae and Pylos c. 1450 - 1200 BCE

Iliad written down sometime between c. 800-675 BCE (c. 800 -750 BCE according

to Powell)

Uluburun shipwreck c. 1300 BCE

Likely date of Trojan war sometime between c. 1350 -1150 BCE (if it happened)

Turmoil near end of Late Bronze Age In eastern Mediterranean

c. 1225 – 1150 BCE

Ramesses III repulses “Sea Peoples” from

Egypt c. 1184 BCE

Troy VIIa destruction c. 1180 BCE

Griffin warrior burial Pylos sometime between

c. 1500 - 1450 BCE

Pylos palace destroyed and abandoned

c. 1200 BCE

Mycenae palace destroyed and abandoned between

c. 1225 - 1200 BCE

Troy VI earthquake destruction c. 1250 BCE

Grave circle A fortified, lion gate built at Mycenae

c. 1250 - 1200 BCE

Lefkandi Toumba burial sometime between c. 1000 – 950 BCE

Elite Athenian Graves c. 900 – 740 BCE

Phrygian kingdom in Anatolia c. 1000 – 600 BCE

Hittite Empire in Anatolia c. 1600 – 1200 BCE Hattusha abandoned

c. 1200 BCE

First Greek Temples c. 800-700 BCE

Babylon

Hattusha

Amarna/Akhetaten

Ugarit

Byblos

NEW KINGDOM

EGYPT

Karnak

GREECE Troy

AEGEAN

SEA

CRETE

Pylos

Knossos

Thebes and Luxor

Mycenae

What kingdoms, cities, groups, and figures were really important in western Anatolia in the Late Bronze Age?

Make a list and talk about how these entities relate to each other.

What kingdoms, cities, groups, and figures were really important in western Anatolia in the Late Bronze Age?

Make a list and talk about how these entities relate to each other.

What written sources from the Late Bronze Age make it possible to piece these relationships together?

Fortified palace at Hattusha, Turkey, c. 1400-1200 BCE

Tawagalawa letter, from Hittite archives at Hattusha, c. 1265 – 1240 BCE

Taruisa/Wilusa

(Troy)

LESBOS

ARZAWA

H A T T I (aka Hittite empire)

Hattusha (Hittite capital)

Miletus

LUKKA

KIZZUWATNA

Anatolian political geography in the 13th century BCE

According to scholars who know how to read Hittite texts:

Hittite “Taruisa” = Greek “Troy”

Hittite “Wilusa” = Greek “Ilion”

According to Hittite documents the Ahhiyawans came to western Anatolia from across the sea, which could mean islands in the Aegean Sea or the Greek mainland

Hittite “Ahhiyawa” = Greek “Achaea?”

BLACK SEA

ANATOLIAAEGEAN SEAGREECE

MEDITERANNEAN SEA CYPRUSCRETE

ITALY

SYRIA

Taruisa/Wilusa

(Troy)

Mycenae

Pylos

Taruisa/Wilusa

(Troy)

LESBOS

ARZAWA

Hattusha (Hittite capital)

Miletus

LUKKA

KIZZUWATNA

Tawagalawa letter, from Hittite archives at Hattusha, c. 1265 – 1240 BCE

H A T T I (aka Hittite empire)

Babylon

Hattusha

Amarna/Akhetaten

Ugarit

Byblos

NEW KINGDOM

EGYPT

Karnak

GREECE Troy

AEGEAN

SEA

CRETE

Pylos

Knossos

Thebes and Luxor

Mycenae

The Hittite Empire and New Kingdom Egypt were superpowers of the Late Bronze Age Mediterranean World

Reconstruction of portion of city walls at Hattusha erected by Suppiluliuma I, c. 1344 – 1322 BCE

Fortified palace at Hattusha, Turkey, c. 1400-1200 BCE

Tawagalawa letter, from Hittite archives at Hattusha, c. 1265 – 1240 BCE

Taruisa/Wilusa

(Troy/Ilion)

LESBOS

ARZAWA

Hattusha (Hittite capital)

Miletus

LUKKA

KIZZUWATNA

Anatolian political geography in the 13th century BCE

H A T T I (aka Hittite empire)

In that matter of Wilusa over which we (the king of Ahhiyawa and the Hittite king) were at enmity, he has converted me in that matter, and we have made peace;…a war would not be right for us.

Tawagalawa letter, section 13 (translation after Hoffner 2009)

Taruisa/Wilusa

(Troy/Ilion)

LESBOS

ARZAWA

Hattusha (Hittite capital)

Miletus

LUKKA

KIZZUWATNA

Anatolian political geography in the 13th century BCE

H A T T I (aka Hittite empire)

And yet, old man, we hear that in earlier times you were rich – all the territory between Lesbos (seat of Makar), out to sea, and inland to Phrygia and to the boundless Hellespont.

Achilles to Priam, Iliad, book 24

Taruisa/Wilusa

(Troy/Ilion)

LESBOS

ARZAWA

Hattusha (Hittite capital)

Miletus

LUKKA

KIZZUWATNA

Anatolian political geography in the 13th century BCE

If this passage reflected realities of the Late Bronze Age, what would be the inland border of Priam’s kingdom?

H A T T I (aka Hittite empire)

Troy/Ilion

LESBOS

LYDIA

P H R Y G I A

Gordion

(Phrygian capital)

Miletus

LYCIA

CILICIA

Anatolian political geography in the 10th – 8th

centuries BCE

And yet, old man, we hear that in earlier times you were rich – all the territory between Lesbos (seat of Makar), out to sea, and inland to Phrygia and to the boundless Hellespont.

Achilles to Priam, Iliad, book 24

The Citadel of Gordion, capital of Phrygia, 9th century BCE

Gateway to the Citadel of Gordion

Tumuli (burial mounds) around Gordion, capital of Phrygia, 9th – 7th century BCE

Tumuli

Tumulus MM

Inhumed body of Phrygian king

Remains of funerary feast

Inside tumulus MM:

Troy/Ilion

LESBOS

LYDIA

P H R Y G I A

Gordion

(Phrygian capital)

Miletus

LYCIA

CILICIA

Anatolian political geography in the 9th – 8th centuries BCE

(Iron Age and Early Archaic periods)

And yet, old man, we hear that in earlier times you were rich – all the territory between Lesbos (seat of Makar), out to sea, and inland to Phrygia and to the boundless Hellespont.

Achilles to Priam, Iliad, book 24

Once I went to Phrygia covered in vines where I saw multitudes of Phrygians…

Priam to Helen, Iliad, book 3

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L A T E B R O N Z E A G E

(1600 – 1100 BCE)

I R O N A G E

(1100 – 800 BCE)

EARLY ARCHAIC PERIOD

(800 – 650 BCE)

Palaces on Greek mainland c. 1400 - 1200 BCE

Iliad written down sometime between c. 800-675 BCE (c. 800 -750 BCE

according to Powell)

Likely date of Trojan war sometime between c. 1350 -1150 BCE (if it happened)

Troy VIIa destruction c. 1180 BCE

Troy VI earthquake destruction c. 1250 BCE

Phrygian kingdom in Anatolia c. 1000 – 600 BCE

Hittite Empire in Anatolia c. 1600 – 1200 BCE

Troy VI (6), inhabited c. 1750-1250 BCE; destroyed by earthquake c. 1250 BCE

Fortifications uncovered by excavations in the 1930s

Possible earthquake damage

Troy VIIa (7a) destruction level Street filled with toppled wall stones and ashy debris

Troy VIIa (7a), c. 1250 -1180 BCE; Destroyed violently (e.g., burning, sling stones and arrowheads, unburied human remains) around 1180 BCE

AREA DUG AWAY BY SCHLIEMANN

(without making a plan)

Plan of acropolis Mycenae

Palace at Mycenae, Greece, destroyed and abandoned between c. 1225 – 1200 BCE (site traditionally associated with Agamemnon)

Palace at Pylos, Greece destroyed and abandoned

around 1200 BCE

(site traditionally associated with Nestor)

Megaron

Megaron during excavation

Troy VIIa (7a) destruction level Street filled with toppled wall stones and ashy debris

Troy VIIa (7a), c. 1250 -1180 BCE; Destroyed violently (e.g., burning, sling stones and arrowheads, unburied human remains) around 1180 BCE

AREA DUG AWAY BY SCHLIEMANN

(without making a plan)

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Unit 1: What is a Historical Event: Homer, Archaeology, and the Trojan War Timeline

L A T E B R O N Z E A G E

(1600 – 1100 BCE)

I R O N A G E

(1100 – 800 BCE)

EARLY ARCHAIC PERIOD

(800 – 650 BCE)

Palaces on Greek mainland c. 1400 - 1200 BCE

Iliad written down sometime between c. 800-675 BCE (c. 800 -750 BCE according

to Powell)

Likely date of Trojan war sometime between c. 1350 -1150 BCE (if it happened)

Turmoil near end of Late Bronze Age In eastern Mediterranean

c. 1225 – 1150 BCE

Troy VIIa destruction c. 1180 BCE

Pylos palace destroyed and abandoned

c. 1200 BCE

Mycenae palace destroyed and abandoned between

c. 1225 - 1200 BCE

Phrygian kingdom in Anatolia c. 1000 – 600 BCE

Hittite Empire in Anatolia c. 1600 – 1200 BCE Hattusha abandoned

c. 1200 BCE

Talk about the evidence that is relevant for essay question 2

Discuss the Iliad. Be sure to address why it is such an important source for the Trojan War, when it was written down, what sort of literature it is, how the stories that make it up were composed, and the goals of the author. Be sure to refer to specific features of the Iliad and passages in the text to support your answer.

Talk about the evidence that is relevant for essay question 3

Why do scholars consider the span between c. 1350 – 1150 BCE to be the most likely date for the Trojan War? In other words, what archaeological and/or textual evidence (from Greece and Anatolia) suggests that this could be the right general setting for such a war?

Talk about the evidence that is relevant for essay question 5

Discuss whether or not the geopolitical situation in western Anatolia (aka “western Asia Minor”) in the Late Bronze Age is consistent with the narrative of the Trojan War. Then consider how well the Iliad matches up with geopolitical realities of Anatolia in the Late Bronze Age. Be sure to support your answer with references to Hittite texts, archaeological evidence from Troy, and passages in the Iliad.

Essay question 6

Think about everything you have written above and answer this question: Based upon the evidence we have, can the Trojan War be considered a historical event? Why or why not? Important things to consider should include how reliable a source the Iliad is likely to be for the Late Bronze Age and how well the narrative of the Trojan War fits with the archaeological and written evidence of that period.

Unit 2: What was history to the first historians? Comparing Herodotus and Thucydides

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L A T E B R O N Z E A G E c. 1600 – 1100 BCE

I R O N A G E c. 1100 - 800 BCE

A R C H A I C P E R I O D c. 800 - 480 BCE

CLASSICAL PERIOD c. 480 - 323 BCE

HELLENISTIC PERIOD c. 323 - 31 BCE

ROMAN PERIOD c. 31 BCE - ?

Greek alphabet invented between

c. 800-750 BCE

Shaft burials at Mycenae

c. 1650 – 1400 BCE Palaces on Greek

mainland c. 1400 - 1200 BCE

Palaces at Mycenae and Pylos

abandoned c. 1200 BCE

Burial of Tutankhamun of

Egypt c. 1336-1327 BCE

Persian Wars 490-479 BCE

(Spartan 300, etc.)

Hattusha abandoned c. 1200 BCE

Parthenon built 447 - 431 BCE

Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta

431 – 404 BCE

Advent of Athenian democracy

507 BCE

Alexander the Great Dies

323 BCE

Cyrus the Great King of Persian

Empire c. 559-531 BCE

Ramesses III Of Egypt brags of

repulsing “Sea Peoples” in c. 1184

BCE

Cleopatra of Egypt dies

30 BCEHannibal of Carthage invades Italy, fights

Romans 219 - 204 BCE

Romans sack Corinth and Carthage

146 BCE

Julius Caesar assassinated

44 BCE

Unit 2: What was History to the first Historians Pertinent evidence dates from c. 550 - 400 BCE

When are we? Unit 2 in relation to some famous ancient people and events

Herodotus writes c. 460 – 425 BCE

Thucydides writes c. 410-400 BCE

Halicarnassos

Samos

Athens

Herodotus of Halicarnassus, lived c. 480 – 420 BCE (portrait dates to the Roman period)

Halicarnassos

Samos

Athens

Thucydides of Athens, lived c. 460-400 BCE (not an ancient depiction)

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L A T E B R O N Z E A G E c. 1600 – 1100 BCE

I R O N A G E c. 1100 - 800 BCE

A R C H A I C P E R I O D c. 800 - 480 BCE

CLASSICAL PERIOD c. 480 - 323 BCE

HELLENISTIC PERIOD c. 323 - 31 BCE

ROMAN PERIOD c. 31 BCE - ?

Greek alphabet invented between

c. 800-750 BCE

Shaft burials at Mycenae

c. 1650 – 1400 BCE Palaces on Greek

mainland c. 1400 - 1200 BCE

Palaces at Mycenae and Pylos

abandoned c. 1200 BCE

Burial of Tutankhamun of

Egypt c. 1336-1327 BCE

Persian Wars 490-479 BCE

(Spartan 300, etc.)

Hattusha abandoned c. 1200 BCE

Parthenon built 447 - 431 BCE

Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta

431 – 404 BCE

Advent of Athenian democracy

507 BCE

Alexander the Great Dies

323 BCE

Cyrus the Great King of Persian

Empire c. 559-531 BCE

Ramesses III Of Egypt brags of

repulsing “Sea Peoples” in c. 1184

BCE

Cleopatra of Egypt dies

30 BCEHannibal of Carthage invades Italy, fights

Romans 219 - 204 BCE

Romans sack Corinth and Carthage

146 BCE

Julius Caesar assassinated

44 BCE

Unit 2: What was History to the first Historians Pertinent evidence dates from c. 550 - 400 BCE

When are we? Unit 2 in relation to some famous ancient people and events

Herodotus writes c. 460 – 425 BCE

Thucydides writes c. 410-400 BCE

c. 660-625 BCE c. 625-600 BCE

c. 570-550 BCE c. 540-520 BCE

Greek painted pots over the course of the Archaic Period

c. 750-700 BCE

Krater (wine bowl) made in Athens, c. 750-700 BCE

Krater (wine bowl) made in Athens, c. 750-700 BCE Paris and Helen embarking for Troy?

Athenian amphora (wine jar), c. 660-640 BCE

Athenian amphora (wine jar), c. 660-640 BCE Odysseus and companions blind the Cyclops

Specific details help tell specific stories

Athenian amphora (wine jar), c. 650-625 BCE

Athenian amphora (wine jar), c. 650-625 BCE Herakles kills the centaur Nessos

Athenian amphora, c. 625-600 BCE Herakles kills the centaur Nessos

HERAKLES NESSOS

Athenian krater (wine bowl), c. 560 BCE, 270 figures and 121 labels

Scenes include:

Calydonian boar hunt

Funeral games of Patroclus

Wedding of Peleus and Thetis

Achilles killing Trojan princes

Death of Achilles

Athenian krater (wine bowl), c. 560 BCE, detail of figures and labels

Athenian amphora (wine jar), c. 540-520 BCE

Athenian amphora (wine jar), c. 540-520 BCE (suicide of Ajax)

c. 660-625 BCE c. 625-600 BCE

c. 570-550 BCE c. 540-520 BCE

Athenian painted pots over the course of the Archaic Period

c. 750-700 BCE

Tragedies were performed in the sanctuary of Dionysus in Athens starting in the middle of the 6th century BCE

Dionysus, God of madness, wine, and theater

Shown here after turning pirates who captured him into dolphins and their ship into a vineyard

Tragedies were performed in the sanctuary of Dionysus in Athens starting in the middle of the 6th century BCE

Performance of Aeschylus’ Persians, a Greek tragedy written in the mid 5th century BCE

Features of Greek Tragedy:

A “Tragic hero” who is doing well and proud of something they have achieved, something they have, their family, etc.

The Tragic hero makes plans relating to whatever it is they are proud of

The Tragic hero is often warned that their plan will go badly

The Tragic hero remains confident and doesn’t notice or dismisses the warnings

The Tragic hero often realizes their mistake, but it’s too late, something horrible happens to them (or has already happened), usually involving their death or death/loss of whatever it is they are proud of. The gods are usually involved in their undoing.

Features of Greek Tragedy:

A “Tragic hero” who is doing well and proud of something they have achieved, something they have, their family, etc.

The Tragic hero makes plans relating to whatever it is they are proud of

The Tragic hero is often warned that their plan will go badly

The Tragic hero remains confident and doesn’t notice or dismisses the warnings

The Tragic hero often realizes their mistake, but it’s too late, something horrible happens to them (or has already happened), usually involving their death or death/loss of whatever it is they are proud of. The gods are usually involved in their undoing.

Discuss what makes Hector a “Tragic hero” according to these criteria

Attic krater (wine bowl), c. 480 – 460 BCE

Athena, Achilles, and Hector

Troy/Ilion

LESBOS

LYDIA

P H R Y G I A

Gordion

(Phrygian capital)

Miletus

LYCIA

CILICIA

Anatolian political geography in the 9th – 8th centuries BCE

Sardis

(capital of Lydia)

LESBOS

Gordion

(Now under Lydian rule)

Miletus

LYCIA

CILICIA

Anatolian political geography in the c. 600 – 550 BCE

Troy/Ilion

Sardis

(capital of Lydia)

Sardis, Turkey, capital of king Croesus of Lydia

Fortifications, 7th- 6th century BCE

Gate

Wall

View of Lydian tumuli (burial mounds) near the Lydian capital of Sardis, Turkey, 7th - early 6th century BCE

Sardis

Cyrus of Persia defeated king Astyages of Media in c. 550 BCE

Sardis

Cyrus of Persia campaigned against king Croesus of Lydia in 548/547 BCE

Athens

Sparta

Sardis

For Next Class (10/15):

Essay 1 due on Blackboard by 4:00 pm! Please feel free to email us or visit our office hours if you have questions.

If you email us a draft by 7:00 pm on Wednesday, October 10th we’ll comment on it and email it back by 7:00 pm on Friday, October 12th

READ: Herodotus Histories book 1, chapters 1-130