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Classical Civilisation

Classical Civilisation is an engaging and interesting subject which students can study from Year 8 onwards. The pupils study the Romans and the Greeks in depth and also look at other cultures which have had a direct impact on the Greek and Roman civilisations. The courses studied in Years 8 and 9 are varied and engaging, looking at archaeology, history, literature, art, religion and architecture. The aim of them is to give the students an opportunity to have a wide and varied appreciation of what Classical Civilisation is, whilst also developing skills of analysis and evaluation.

Year 8

  • Greek religion, gods, temples and sacrifice
  • Greek Literature - Homer’s Odyssey or a Greek play
  • Alexander the Great
  • Gladiatorial shows and chariot racing
  • The Roman Army

Year 9

  • Myths, gods and the Underworld
  • Sparta
  • Mycenae and Troy and the archaeological evidence
  • Roman or Greek literature (Ovid’s Metamorphoses or Euripides’ Medea or Homer’s Iliad)
  • Cleopatra, Mark Antony and Augustus
  • Legendary women (Helen, Lucretia etc)
  • Dacian Wars – Trajan Column

GCSE

Pupils will follow the OCR GCSE specification (9-1).

Classical civilisation is the study of the civilisations of Ancient Greece and Rome, which have provided the foundations of modern European culture and society.

Whether it's

  • literature
  • politics
  • history
  • mythology
  • art
  • architecture
  •  morality
  •  science, or thought

The classical world helps us understand and appreciate our own roots and ideas.

Intrinsically interesting and very varied, classical civilisation combines well with subjects such as

  • English
  • Latin
  • Religious Studies
  • History

It's also a highly valued GCSE and A level subject.

Course content

Candidates will sit two examinations taken at the end of Year 11.

Typically, pupils will study:

Both units compare the Greek and Roman worlds and use various types of evidence to understand them; visual (pottery, sculpture), literary (epic, poetry) and material (artefacts, weapons).

Unit 1:       

Women in the ancient world – We will study Greek and Roman women, looking at topics on legendary women, women to be feared and ‘improper women’, as well as the more typical aspects of women’s lives: the home and religion.

Unit 2:       

War and warfare.  We will be studying Sparta, Athens and Rome and considering how they each fought their wars: what equipment did they have, what sort of armour and what formations did they use to fight key battles, such as Thermopylae, Salamis and Actium.

Each unit is worth 50% of the total GCSE.