Customer Reviews

Trojans and Their Neighbours: An Introduction (Peoples of the Ancient World)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Many of the other customer reviews for this book use the word "cautious". It may not be obvious, though, that Bryce has very strong reasons for caution.

The first reason is that Bryce is keenly aware of a tremendous controversy that erupted in 2001-2002 (still ongoing in some quarters) over the importance of Troy VI/VII in the late Bronze Age. On one side, figures like Korfmann, Pernicka, Jablonka (the excavators), and Latacz (a philologist) argued that it was a significant trade centre and the most important political force in its region; on the other side figures like Kolb and Hertel (ancient historians) argued that there was no evidence that Troy VI/VII was anything more than a village of minor importance. In some ways this seems to have been more a political debate than an archaeological one. So, although the archaeological debate has been very firmly settled -- excavations continue to find fortifications around a large area, indicating that the population was closer to 10,000 than to Kolb's figure of 1000 -- the topic is still a bit of a hot potato.

The second reason is that there was a need for a book to act as a counterbalance to J. Latacz's very exuberant book "Troy and Homer". Latacz's and Bryce's books are far and away the most important books in the 2000s decade that have outlined the status of Troy in the late Bronze Age. Latacz, the Homerist, is tremendously optimistic about what he thinks the archaeological evidence can prove about the relationship between Bronze Age Troy, and the poetic/mythical Troy of the Homeric epics. Bryce, the Hittitologist, is less carried away, and sticks to what can actually be securely demonstrated.

As a result, probably the best way to go about it is to read both books. I'd suggest reading Latacz first, to get interested in the subject and see why the subject is so exciting (why not get carried away a little!); and then Bryce, to make sure that your feet are still attached to the ground. The net result will be an extremely well-informed critical view of what is and is not known, and what can and cannot be concluded on the basis of the evidence.

This work contains a thorough discussion of Troy's history both before and after the time attributed to the Trojan war. There is also a valuable treatment of the peoples who inhabited the area and its surrounds. However the author is reluctant to draw many conclusions and in my opinion is far too cautious. One point he makes is that Homer may have made the Iliad favourable to both the Greeks and the Trojans as by Homer's time the descendants of both were living in Homer's region. I would have thought pandering to both sides (whose past was involved) was a strong indication that there was some truth in a story about the war. The book is also a little too detailed for the casual reader.

Trevor Bryce is cautious about over-romanticising Troy and its related issues. This book is a careful examination of the latest archaeological evidence (including comments on the recent dispute about Troy's "Lower City")but also covers the overall history of attitudes towards Troy. At least as interesting, however, is Bryce's coverage of the Aegean and Anatolian neighbors of "Priam's" Troy. Bryce is a competent writer, although parts of the book are a bit dry. All in all, a very good near total (but general) coverage of Troy and the Bronze Age Aegean. Recommended.

Trevor Bryce's "The Trojans and Their Neighbours" seeks to place ancient Troy in the context of other peoples of the same time. And, important to note, although extra emphasis is given to the era which might fit with the city of Homeric epics, Troy before and after is not neglected. The narrative is based upon archaeological research even of very recent date, and Bryce adopts a cautious approach rather than unreservedly embracing the most sensational interpretations of that evidence. He openly pronounces himself an "agnostic" on several matters of Homeric Era Troy, including the questions of whether the city and possibly its war are identified in Hittite clay tablet archives. Although Bryce adopts such matters {including a large "lower" city attached to the citadel known since Schliemann's time) as being established for purposes of his narrative, he is careful to point out that these ideas are based on less than ironclad evidence and remain yet to be fully proven. It is in the quetion of the historiocity of the Trojan War of Greek epic where Bryce is most openly skeptical, pointing out the lack of convincing evidence found to this point; he does not deny that a war (or wars) of some type may have occurred, but he also points out that there is still a long way to go before accepting the reality of Agamemnon and Helen and a ten year siege. Bryce's book is a useful supplement to recent books less restrained in their acceptance of recent dramatic interpretations of archaeological work.

Trevor Bryce, renowned Hitttitologist, writes this solid analysis of the history of Troy. As we would expect he draws upon the latest discoveries of Anatolian archeology, including the last Troy digs by Manfred Korfmann. It is a well written book with accurate and up-to-date knowledge. Bryce, in his discussion, is careful not to hypothesize anything, but only to represent what the general consensus is for all aspects of his discussion. The outcome: a good summary of the state of the art, but nothing earth-shaking:-)

I am only giving it 4 stars because (1) there is no discussion of so-far unpublished discoveries (I mean unpublished to the general public, not to the Anatolian specialist) and (2) there is no particularly insightful analysis or thesis being presented that has not already being discussed in length in existing literature. I found the book thorough and well written but I was left a bit disappointed by the scope of the work.

In the end, this is a good opus for somebody trying to acquire up-to-date knowledge about Trojan archeology and history. It is however superfluous to the enlightened amateur looking for either new facts or new theories. A solid 4 stars.