TOPIC 2 Case Study: Homer and the Trojan War
7 Weeks
Focus: Homer and the Trojan War is oriented towards the problems and issues of investigating the past. This topic is intended
to provide students with opportunities to assess the role of myth and legend in history, critically analyse past historical method and determine the
values and beliefs of past civilisations. In this topic, student will have to generate hypotheses and weigh up contemporary theories and explanations on
the basis of the available evidence. This case study also provides a historical context within which students can learn about the methods
used by historians, archaeologists and scholars to investigate the past.
Outcomes:
A student:
P1.1 describe and explain the contribution of key people, groups, events, institutions, societies and sites within the historical context
P2.1 identify historical factors and explain their significance in contributing to change and continuity in the ancient world
P3.1 locate, select and organise relevant information from a variety of sources
P3.2 identify relevant problems of sources in reconstructing the past
P3.3 comprehend sources and analyse them for their usefulness and reliability
P3.4 identify and account for differing perspectives and interpretations of the past
P3.6 plan and present the findings of historical investigations, analysing and synthesising information from a range of sources
P4.1 use historical terms and concepts appropriately
P4.2 communicate knowledge and understanding of historical features and issues using
Inquiry questions
What evidence exists about the Trojan War?
How do we overcome the issues with this evidence?
What was the role of women and men in Bronze Age Society?
What was the nature of Bronze Age Greek civilization?
What was the contribution of Homer and Schliemann to our understanding of the Trojan war?
Did the Trojan war occur as Homer describes it?
Objectives
knowledge and understanding about:
people, places, societies and events in the context of their times
skills to:
undertake the process of historical inquiry
communicate an understanding of history
values and attitudes about:
the diversity and complexity of ancient societies
the influence of the ancient past on the present and the future
the value of Ancient History for personal growth and lifelong learning
Student learn about:
Homer and Bronze Age Greece
Overview of the Bronze Age world: major
cultures and sites
Homer’s Illiad and the Trojan War: using
heroic poetry as a historical source
Social Structure and power in Archaic Greece:
- Kingship (Basilieus)
- Wealth
- Death
- Women
2.Schliemann and the discovery of Troy
Discovery and excavation of Troy: Calvert,
Schliemann, Dorpfeld, Blegen, Korfman
Schliemann’s excavation at Mycenae
Student learn to:
Resources and Strategies
Identify the location of significant
Hellenic and Near eastern sites
Understand the role of a variety of
archeological sites in contributing to
this knowledge
Trojan War slideshow
“Unlocking the Past” Maps
Mapping Exercise
Explain the features of the Illiad and
other ancient sources
Identify modern perspectives on these
sources
Intepret and assess primary source
material and formulate theories on the
social structure of Bronze Age society
Compare archaeological evidence to the
written source
Understand the nature of Schliemann’s
excavation at Hissarlik and other Greek
sites
Understand the significance of
Schliemann’s finds and their
controversial nature
Use primary and secondary evidence to
Major issues: evidence of Trojan War, Homer’s discuss the possible value of the myth
Robert Graves “Introduction to the Illiad”
Hughes “Bronze Age Greece”
Illiad 1 “Rage of Achilles”
Oikos, kleros and Basileus exercise
Mapping exercise
Note taking exercise on the key features of the
Illiad cycle
Comprehension exercise on Grave’s
introduction: modern perspectives and problems
with the Illiad as a source
Illiad 1 “The Rage of Achilles”
Oswyn Murray “Social Structure in Archaic
Greece”
Societies from the Past “Beehive Tombs”
Illiad 8 “Funeral for Patroclus”
Bethany Hughes ‘Helen of Troy’ doco
Fragments from Ancient Rome and Greece
Illiad 3 Helen surveys the Champions
Source analysis and comparison
Brief research task “Archaic v. Classical
Greece”
Critical written task about the role of women
Michael Wood “In Search of Troy”
Priam’s Treasure, images
Brown “Schliemann’s excavations”
Societies from the Past ‘Homer and the
Trojan war”
Critical analysis of Schliemann’s methods;
Schliemann on trial
Group tasks about Schliemann’s other finds and
other experts
Registration
Iliad, Schliemann – father of archaeology
or fraud.
of troy and Schliemann as ‘father of
archaeology’
Critical written work on Schliemann as the
father of archaeology.
Assessment: Research Task/Essay 10%
Final Exam 10%