CLASSICAL CIVILISATION

LEVEL 3: A LEVEL
EXAMINING BOARD: OCR

Classical Civilisation is the study of Ancient Greeks and Romans. Our course focuses mainly on Greece’s ancient history.

Through the study of art, literature and history you will get to understand the culture, mythology and society of the Ancient Greek and Roman worlds.

We look at the representation of characters like Herakles and the way the vixen Helen saw herself. You will get to meet the pious Aeneas and see how the roots of democracy take hold in Western Civilisation.

We aim to offer two trips; one museum trip (either British Museum or the Ashmolean) and one residential trip in Year 2 either to Greece or Italy.

There are three units:

  • Art History – The study of Archaic and Classical Art in sculpture, architectural sculpture and vase painting
  • ‘World of the Hero’ – This is the study of the Iliad which is centred around the hero Achilles and the last year of the Trojan War, and then the Aeneid, which is the mythical founding of Rome
  • Democracy and the Athenians – This is the study of Ancient Greece between 600BC-421BC. This is the unit that is most like ancient history, studying Politics, History, the Greco-Persian War, as well as some Old Comedy.

As a minimum, you will need (or equivalent to):

  • GCSE Mathematics grade 4
  • GCSE English Language grade 4
  • plus three more GCSEs at grade 4.

 

This is a 100% exam-based subject (coursework free). There are 3 essay-based exams at the end of the 2 years

Many of our students chose to pursue Classics or Classics-related subjects at university and beyond. You could go into Classical Studies, Art History, Archaeology, Museum Studies, Archiving and/or Egyptology. Classics can also be studied as a single or joint honours

Potential careers include Politics, Law, Teaching, Museum Studies, Archaeology, Journalism, Creative Writing and even Music.

Chris Martin, Tom Hiddleston, Boris Johnson, J.K. Rowling, J.R.R Tolkien and Sigmund Freud all have some sort of Classical degree, as do many key US Presidents, including Thomas Jefferson.

Do we study or need ancient languages?

No, everything we study is in translation and we do not offer Greek or Latin courses.

Do I need to have studied Classics or History?

No, you need no previous experience in Classics or even History.

Is there a lot of writing and reading?

YES! We are an essay-based subject and we read lots of wonderful texts (in translation).