Did the Trojan War Really Happen?

Kings and Generals' historical animated documentary series continues with a video on the Trojan War, as we talk about the historicity of the conflict between Trojans and the Greeks depicted in the immortal Iliad of Homer. We also cover the Mycenaean and Hittite civilizations. How did this story come to be? Is it just a myth or is there historical proof that it happened? What does archeology tell us about the conflict at the end of the Bronze age? Were Hector, Achilles, Helen and Paris even real?

Script: Leo Stone

#Documentary #Troy #Greece

[dialaskisel]

"Total War was inevitable"

I'm slightly disappointed that you didn't flash up an ad for the game at that moment.

[crusader]

He’s trying to start a fight between the history and classics majors

[princeamori]

Whoever made the graphics for this video, love it!

[Catman]

Calvert: “Yeah man, this hill? It’s totally Troy.”
Schliemann: “No way! Really??”
Calvert: **stifled laughter** “For sure.”
Schliemann: **digs up 9 settlements dating back to possibly even the chalcolithic** “HOLY SHIT IT’S TROY!!!”
Calvert: “huh?”

[Iamav]

“Get up Prince of Troy, get up. I won’t let a rock take my glory”.

[ash]

As a history scholar who also loves ancient mythology & legends, I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful presentation. Respect for the objective historical approach, great story telling & high quality production value!

[nikhtose]

Most historians agree now that the Bronze Age collapse was the result of a "systems failure" -- a series of simultaneous catastrophes, any one of which would not have been fatal, brought down the highly integrated multi-state trade and economic structures that ruined highly centralized societies. These include (1) drought, (2) famine, (3) sequential earthquakes and (4) consequent uprisings and sea-borne raids and plunder (the "Sea Peoples") by desperate masses.

[tovarishlumberjack]

I love the myth that the surviving trojans went to italy under aneas and then became the ancestors of the romans and eventually formed rome

[mikolajtrzeciecki]

A reason why Troy was such an important point remains unmentioned in this material.
There is a constant sea current running from the Black Sea towards the Egean. Also winds blow predominantly in this direction. Merchant ships were dependant on winds (no merchant would pay for a numerous rowing crew), thus they had to wait weeks long at the entry of the Hellespont for favourable weather. This is why the control of this single point was crucial and profitable.

[TREYtheExplainer]

Man, this video was amazing! The production quality is down right fantastic 👏🏻 awesome work!

[billaros]

Most videos that I have seen regarding this issue are extremely sloppy, just quoting the Iliad or sometimes not even the Iliad, rather the movie. Well you got the point, we don't want to hear about the story we already know it, we want to learn if there is any truth to it.

But you have done a great job my friend. Speaking with evidence and including archeological data dating back to the 1850s and Schliemann's disastrous excavations up to the more recent was truly magnificent. You also raised some very important questions that we all hope that the archeological community will answer some day.

Thanks again and congratulations for a very informative video.

[napoleonibonaparte]

We would have known more if Schliemann didn’t use TNT

[fzr]

Homer lived between 8-7 century bc . The Trojan campaign happened around 1100 BC . Between all these years, the story of Trojan war was spread into societies with songs by Aoidoi ( Αοιδός, skill singers that were playing ancient instruments and sing in festivals ) and Rhapsodoi ( Ραψωδός, professional performers that were speaking the poems, using staffs to keep the beat and actually Rap the epic stories ) . What Homer did was to gather all these folklore epic stories and connect them into his two famous masterpieces . Iliad and Odyssey

[bogdancr]

Another amazing video, as always. As an archaeologist i had the pleasure of working with part of the german team that excavated at Hisarlik during the 90's and 2000's. The stories they had....my god. On the other hand, the origins of the enigmatic "Sea People" is still a subject of debate among archaeologists around the world. I still remember when I was in my first year of bachelor studies, i kept annoying one of my professor with questions regarding the sea people and the bronzs age collapse.

[Τζει-εδ]

*Sing, Muse, of the rage of Achillies*

Most badass quote ever.

Myrmidons!

[frankteunissen]

Strange that the strategic situation of the city that was once there isn’t mentioned. It controlled the entrance to the Dardanelles and thereby access to the Black Sea. It would be logical for the Mycenaeans to get into conflict with whoever controlled that access at some time or other, because the Black Sea was important to them economically. And that is entirely separate with their issues with the Hittites.

[ryanwelker]

I think it’s incredibly important that we realize that there is always truth in legends and myths; no matter how small the truth is, it is always there and we just have to find it.

[pathutchison]

I’m starting to come around to the view that the “sea peoples” were a symptom of the Bronze Age collapse, and not the cause. They may have made the situation much worse, but you have to wonder why so many people were not only coming to invade, but also bringing their entire families and all their belongings with them. They were almost certainly looking for a place to settle, and the big question is why. What forced so many to relocate at the same time?

[shadydetective]

Kings and Generals. You guys just made me love you a whole lot more when you guys started to talk about the Trojan War and sponsor Total War: Troy is released for FREE for the first 24 hours!!! Thank you guys ❤❤

[orktv]

0:30 Fun fact, the originally text by Homer makes no reference to Achilles' immortality or invulnerability, or him being dipped in the Styx by his ankle. Achilles' death was foreordained, and in his duel with Hector he was wounded and bleeding.