Classical Civilisation

Course summary

A Level classical civilisation enables you to explore the roots of the modern world through studying the history, literature and art of ancient Greece and Rome. It's for you if you want to study a subject which is multidisciplinary, involving elements of English, history, art and philosophy. You don't need to have studied the subject before to take the A level and you don't need to have studied languages such as Latin as all the texts are studied in English translation. The course will give you transferable skills such as analytical and evaluative thinking and extended writing that are useful for a range of careers. Candidates study one topic for each unit. Units include: Unit 1 - The world of the hero: The Odyssey. Homer’s epic story delves into the worlds of the Greek gods, monsters and heroes. The heroic world: The Aeneid. An epic story which explores what it was to be a hero in the Roman world. Unit 2 - Greek theatre: We look at three Greek plays to learn of ancient Greek values and society. Oedipus Rex: The king who kills his father and accidentally marries his mother. Then blinds himself as a result. The Bacchae: The god of partying comes down to earth and seeks revenge on the Greeks who have stopped believing him to be the son of Zeus. Frogs: Dionysus travels to Hades’ underworld to bring a tragic playwright back from the dead! Unit 3 - Greek beliefs and ideas: A study of how religion and the Greek gods were an essential part of ancient Greek identity. We look at religion in daily life and festivals. Candidates who achieve this qualification will be prepared to study a university degree in Classics, Philosophy, History, English Literature and Drama. This qualification will support candidates working towards a wide range of careers including teaching, journalism, archaeology and law among others.