Classical Civilisation 'Classics' - A Level

Course summary

What is Classics? Classical Civilisation focuses on the civilisations of Ancient Greece and Rome, and is a wide ranging subject involving the study of literature, art, artefacts, archaeological sites, and the ancient historical context. Why Study Classics? Classical Civilisation is just as useful as other humanities subjects like History, Geography and Religious Studies. Subjects like this give you really good skills such as essay writing and source analysis, and teach you how to structure a good argument. They show you are good at thinking and evaluating, and also that you have an interest in people and cultures. Classical Civilisation lets you do a bit of everything whilst studying two of the most important and interesting civilisations of the Western world. Course Details What will I be studying? You will study material from both Greece and Rome and their surrounding worlds, drawn from diverse time periods ranging from Archaic Greece to Imperial Rome. This material will encompass aspects of literature, visual/material culture and classical thought in their respective social, historical and cultural contexts. Component 1: The World of the Hero The poems of Homer were considered by the Greeks themselves to be a foundation of Greek culture, standing as they do at the beginning of the Western literary canon. This component provides the opportunity to appreciate the lasting legacy of the Homeric world and to explore its attitudes and values. The epics of Homer, with their heroes, gods and exciting narratives, have been in continuous study since their conception, and remain popular today. This component also provides learners with the opportunity to appreciate Virgil’s Aeneid, a cornerstone and landmark in Western literature. Drawing inspiration from Homer, as well as from his own cultural and political context, Virgil explored what it was to be a hero in the Roman world and created a work which has proven enduringly popular. You will study the following texts: • Homer’s Odyssey • Virgil’s Aeneid You will consider: Literary techniques and composition The heroic world: characterisation and themes The social, cultural and religious context Historical and political background Component 2: Culture and the Arts: Greek Theatre The drama produced in the ancient Greek theatre forms some of the most powerful literature of the ancient world, and has had a profound and wide-reaching influence on modern culture. To fully understand this cultural phenomenon requires study of not only the plays but the context in which their form and production developed. To develop this understanding this component involves the study of the physical theatre space used by the Greeks to stage their dramas, and also depictions of this staging in the visual/material record. This study of the production of Greek drama is coupled with an in–depth study of three plays, all of which have proven to be enduring favourites: • Sophocles’ Oedipus the King • Euripides’ Bacchae • Aristophanes’ Frogs The themes and concepts explored by these plays are of significant relevance and interest as much to the modern audience as they were to that of the original performance. You will consider: Drama and the theatre in ancient Athenian society Nature of tragedy Nature of (old) comedy Literary techniques, structure and dramatic conventions Social, political and religious themes in tragedy Social, political and religious themes in comedy Component 3: Beliefs and Ideas: Greek Religion Religion was an essential part of ancient Greek identity, permeating all strata of society and all aspects of an individual’s daily life. Religion could be connected to the household, to life in the city or life in the countryside; moreover politics and religion were intertwined to the extent that political decisions were sometimes made on the basis of divine oracular intervention. Religion was also an important tool for the creation of local and Panhellenic identities, as well as of competition between the Greek city-states. Studying the practicalities of religious ritual, and the role it played in society, alongside the functions and layout of famous temple complexes, will make this component tangible and develop a sense of the central role religion played in the life of everyday people. The nature of the gods and their relationship with mortals will also be explored. Key to this is the depiction of the gods by Homer and Hesiod, whom Herodotus credited with giving the Greeks their first understanding of the characters and responsibilities of the gods. Also included are the very different role of Mystery Cults, and the tensions caused by the rise of philosophical thinking. You will consider: The nature of the Olympian Gods Personal experience of the divine Religion and society Places of worship Rituals and priests Religion and philosophy