Classical Civilisation
Course Outline:
Unit 1: World of the Hero (40% weighting)
The thematic and contextual study of two epics; Homer’s Iliad and Virgil’s Aeneid. Key themes for study include religion and Greek/Roman mythology, the hero in the ancient world, women and their role and status, slavery, fate, free-will and destiny.
Unit 2: Greek Theatre (30% weighting)
The study of three ancient Greek plays; Oedipus Rex, The Bacchae and The Frogs (two tragedies and a comedy). The plays provide a contextual insight into the ancient Greek world through socio-political commentary, the issue of kingship vs democracy, religion and mythology, fate and the issue of sex and power identity.
Unit 3: Greek religion (30% weighting)
The exploration of the role and importance of religion to the ancient Greek peoples. This will be analysed through the study of god and hero worship, temples, sites, sanctuaries and statues. The difference between personal and public worship and the importance of cult worship to the individual. Greek philosophy and the early philosophers including Socrates, Plato and Aristotle and their impact on the nature of Greek religion.
Studying A-Level Classical Civilisation develops highly transferable skills in critical evaluation, source analysis, and persuasive essay writing. Employers value classicists for their ability to synthesise complex historical evidence, construct logical arguments, and understand diverse cultural perspectives. This qualification opens doors to a wide range of career sectors, including heritage and museums, law, journalism, civil service, teaching, and marketing.
The classics department trips are to supplement the units that you are studying over two years. The ancient contextual understanding is supported by a trip to Rome looking at the impact of the ancient Roman empire and more broadly understanding the lives of peoples in societies over 2000 years old.
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