AS/A2 AQA

If you are interested in Ancient Greece and Rome and want to study their history, society and culture, then this is the course for you.

Course Outline
4 units - 2 for AS and 2 for A2

AS Level

• Introduction to the Ancient world
• Unit 1: Women in Athens and Rome (exam) which involves the study of the lives of different types of women often through the eyes of their male contemporaries based on actual sources in
  translation. (society and literature)
• For unit 2 you may choose from the following:

Homer’s Iliad (exam) which is a critical study of selected books of the epic poem about the siege of Troy by the Greeks (literature)
OR
Roman Architecture and Town Planning (exam) which looks at the layout, construction and function of houses, theatres and amphitheatres, baths, temples and forum ( architecture and society)

• A trip to Rome, Ostia Antica, Pompeii and Herculaeum will be organised to provide first hand experience of Roman architecture. This is open to all Classics and Archaeology students.

A2 Level

• Unit 3 :Greek Tragedy (exam) includes a critical look at several plays by Greek dramatists Euripides and Sophocles (literature)
• Unit 4: The reigns of the early  Roman Emperors, Tiberius and Claudius, (exam) including such topics as the role of the senate, army, imperial women, Praetorian Guard and emperor worship. (history, politics and literature)

Lessons will be a mixture of teacher-led activity, group work using IT, design and reconstruction, the study of written sources, debates, performance, audio-visual material, site visits, lectures or theatre visits where available.

Preferred Entry Requirements
English GCSE at Grade C or above, History GCSE at grade C or above would be useful but not essential.  However, you must have a keen interest in the Ancient World and be prepared to learn new skills as each unit looks at a different cultural aspect.  For more detail, please see the Studying Classical Civilisation booklet at Aquinas.*

*Please note that your enrolment on to a particular course must be approved by the Head of that department.