The Modern Scholar: Archaeology and the Iliad: The Trojan War in Homer and History

This was a thoroughly enjoyable series of lectures on Bronze Age Greece. If you find yourself interested in this period of history you'll find this absolutely fascinating. I loved this book and would buy again.

There's a lot of information here, and I enjoyed the enthusiasm of Professor Cline. Unfortunately, there's also a lot of repetition.

This is much more archaeology than Iliad. I learned a great deal about the various archaeologists who have sought Troy over the years. One, in particular, was evidently a scoundrel and a liar - his story is fascinating. And what a to-do over "Priam's Treasure"!

I just think it was a little long and (to repeat myself!) very, very repetitive. If you have a real interest in archaeology, then by all means go for it. If your interest is more literary, perhaps another history of Homer and the Iliad would be more appropriate.

This course was helpful to me in understanding the archaeology about Troy and its implications for the historicity of The Trojan War. If you don't care to hear about Troy level 9B and why it may be less important than level 9C, you might get bogged down a bit.

The lecture series was broken down into sections relating to the possibilities surrounding whether the Trojan War actually happened, potential locations, archaeological evidence uncovered to date by various excavations since the 19th century and the various theories of how and when Troy was likely destroyed.

It gave me some new insights to the story and how the story may have evolved from the accepted 1150 BCE occurrence of the war and Homer's rendition told 500 years later, the concept that the famous Trojan Horse may not be what we think but instead a metaphor and the proposition that maybe the war wasn't because of Helen afterall.

I found Professor Cline's delivery easy to understand, entertaining and informative.

If you want more in depth discussion about the story itself - this is not for you. However, if you are interested in archaeology or the evidence that indicates the possible remains of Troy then this lecture series is spot on. Enjoy!

Yes, if they loved ancient history like I do. This lecture series is good.

None. Only real lectures I have sat through.

The narrator tried to be funny, but wasn't.

No. It was fun to listen per each lecture with a break in between to digest the info.

A really good series. Check it out.

Cline covers a lot of ground, not only the history of the Iliad but also the questions surrounding Homer, the histories of the archeologists and archeological digs that have searched for Troy, and the questions that archeology and study have yet to answer.

Cline is a pleasant, interesting lecturer that makes the subject matter both intriguing and accessible to the listener.

I would recommend these lectures to anyone who has an interest in Homer's story of Troy "The Iliad", an interest in ancient Greek history, or in archaeology.

Dr. Cline's in-depth knowledge of all these complex subjects is obvious; yet he has a real talent for communicating with the general listener and making the subject matter easily understandable and ... fascinating.