History·Ancient Greece & Rome·conceptual
Troy: Myth or History?
Explore how Heinrich Schliemann's excavation at Hisarlik in modern Turkey raised questions about whether the Trojan War described in Homer's Iliad was historical, partly historical, or entirely mythical — understanding that archaeology and literary sources can support or contradict each other, and that the line between myth and history in the ancient world is often blurred
Suggested ages 11–13
Evidence of understanding
- Describe Schliemann's excavation at Hisarlik and what he claimed to have found
- Explain how archaeological evidence at Troy both supports and complicates Homer's story
- Discuss why the boundary between myth and history is difficult to draw for the ancient world
Assessment prompt
Could Troy: Myth or History? discuss whether the Trojan War really happened, explaining what archaeology has found at Troy and why the answer isn't simple?
Standards alignment
No external standards are linked to this topic.