Classical Civilisation – A Level- OCR
Entry Criteria:
There is no need to have studied either History or Classical Civilisation at GCSE, although an interest in History is crucial, but we do expect students to have a grade 5 or above in English Literature in addition to our general entry requirements as this is an essay and literature based subject.
What is Classical Civilisation?
Classical Civilisation is the study of the history and culture of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Course offerings cover every aspect of life in the ancient world, including politics, warfare, law, slavery, gender and sexuality, religion, sports and leisure, death, literature, art, architecture and philosophical thought. All topics include a study of primary and secondary classical sources, whether texts in translations, physical evidence or historical works, and encourage students to gain an understanding of Greek and Roman society and its values.
Why do Classical Civilisation?
The histories of Greece and Rome are both fascinating and exciting and therefore students who love history will enjoy the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and understanding of ancient history. The small city of Rome fighting its way to supremacy, first in Italy, then across the whole of the Mediterranean, finally becoming an Empire encompassing as far north as Britain, in the west as far as Portugal, and stretching down to Africa and across into the Middle East, provides an amazing area of study. The history of Greece is inextricably linked with the history of western civilisation. It was in Ancient Greece that democracy was invented and argued about, where great philosophical issues were debated, where the question of whether it is nature or nurture that defines character was discussed, and where there was a tremendous flourishing of art and literature…as well as a few good wars!
Therefore, the study of Classical Civilisation leads to an understanding of the foundations of the society in which we live today.
However, Classical Civilisation encourages students to develop the critical and evaluative skills which will enable them to go on to Higher Education to study a wide range of courses including, of course, Classics or Ancient History. Classical Civilisation also complements many other popular A Levels including Art, English Literature, Government and Political, History, RS, Philosophy and Ethics, Drama & Theatre and the Social Sciences.
A Level Classical Civilisations
Course Content
| Content Overview | Assessment Overview | |
| The world of the hero
· Homer’s Iliad · Virgil’s Aeneid |
120 Marks 2 hour 30 minutes paper |
40% of total A Level |
| Culture and the arts
· Imperial Image |
75 Marks 1 hour 45 minutes paper |
30% of total A Level |
| Beliefs and Ideas
· Politics of the Late Republic |
75 Marks
1 hour 45 minutes paper |
30% of total A Level |
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 module provides learners with the opportunity to appreciate the lasting legacy of these works and to explore their attitudes and values. The epics of Homer, with their heroes, gods and exciting narratives remain popular today.
This module 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.
The Odyssey and the Aeneid
After ten brutal years fighting in the Trojan War, the cunning hero Odysseus wants nothing more than to sail home to Ithaca—but the gods have other plans. Cursed by the vengeful sea god Poseidon, Odysseus is blown off course into a perilous, mythic world where he must outwit a flesh-eating Cyclops, resist the fatal song of the Sirens, survive the six-headed monster Scylla, escape a witch who turns men into swine, and even journey to the Underworld itself. While he battles across the wine-dark sea for another decade, his loyal wife Penelope stalls over a hundred ruthless suitors who have overrun their palace and plotted to murder his son. Disguised as a humble beggar, the battered king finally washes ashore in his homeland, setting the stage for an unforgettable, blood-soaked reckoning to reclaim his throne and his family.
After a century of civil strife in Rome and Italy, Virgil wrote The Aeneid to honour the emperor Augustus by praising Aeneas – Augustus’ legendary ancestor. As a patriotic epic imitating Homer, The Aeneid also set out to provide Rome with a literature equal to that of ancient Greece.
It tells of Aeneas, survivor of the sack of Troy, and of his seven-year journey – to Carthage, where he tragically fell in love with Queen Dido; then to the underworld, in the company of the Sybil of Cumae; and finally to Italy, where he founded Rome. It is a story of defeat and exile, of love and war…
Imperial Image
Augustus was the first Emperor of Rome. He was a political genius and that can be shown by the way that he was able to turn a society that was fundamentally anti monarchical away from its Republican values and accept rule by one man. In this era of political spin and ‘fake news’ it is both relevant and interesting to look at how a Roman politician was able to produce a personal brand and sell it to all social classes.
In this unit we use written and visual sources to assess the differing impressions Augustus wished to create, the reasons for these and the effectiveness of them. We look at how he presented himself as son of Julius Caesar, creating a popular following among the masses, while also distancing himself from the negative aspects of his legacy. We see how he represents himself as a military commander and both a religious and moral leader of the City and also as a cultural icon, the new Saturn, providing an era of peace and plenty. By examining later representations of Augustus we also see how long lasting the legacy of propaganda was.
Politics in the Late Republic
The Late Republic was a period of upheaval and conflicting views on how the Roman state should function. These conflicts eventually led to the downfall of the Republican res publica (state) and the rise of the Roman Emperors. In this module students will study the political thought of the period from Sulla’s retirement in 79 BC to the death of Cicero in 43 BC, through examining Marcus Porcius Cato (‘Cato the Younger’), Gaius Julius Caesar, and Marcus Tullius Cicero. Events we will cover include the rise of the First Triumvirate, the civil war and the murder of Julius Caesar. We will learn about the topic through the letters and speeches of Cicero.
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Student Quote
‘I love being a Classics student as the course is so incredibly varied and exciting. On one side you are exploring the rich history that built the foundations for our society today: full of explosive events and intricate political action along with the development of democracy and empire. On the other, the first examples of literature ever recorded: from heroic battles full of guts and glory to the first depictions of female rage and betrayal, the course invites you to relive the events of an ancient world where the gods still walked among men.
Classical Civilisations is a popular and successful subject that many of our students choose to study at University. One of our previous students managed to secure a place at Cambridge where he has received many lectures by Mary Beard.