Classical Civilisation

Why study this subject?

Classical Civilisation is the study of the ancient civilisations of Greece and Rome. Their literature, art, history and thought provide a unique opportunity to explore an entire culture from a variety of different standpoints. The A Level course is very diverse and wide ranging in subject matter and as such complements many other subjects, including English, History, Philosophy, Art and Drama. The course is open to all students in the Sixth Form, regardless of whether they have studied Classical subjects at GCSE. All literary texts are studied in English translation.

What skills will you develop?

Due to its demanding subject base and its cultivation of analytical and evaluative skills, Classical Civilisation is highly valued by both universities and employers.

Skills acquired include, but are not limited to: • Intellectual curiosity and inquisitiveness. • Empathy, being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. • The ability to analyse and evaluate sources and information in a highly critical way. • The ability to formulate convincing and articulate arguments, drawing on different evidence. • The ability to read and research independently. • Creativity and originality of thought, being able to ‘think outside the box’.

What are the key elements to the course?

Greek and Latin Literature form the bedrock of Western thought and ideas; study of such works is rewarding not only because they can help us understand ourselves and our own world, but also because the works themselves are passionate, inspiring and profoundly moving. In the A Level course we study both Homer’s Iliad and Virgil’s Aeneid, and compare the two epics, their themes and characters. As the course progresses, the different aspects help you put together a unified and complex view of one of the most fascinating periods of history. In studying different aspects of the Classical world, students acquire increasingly sophisticated skills of comprehension, research, understanding and evaluation, and the ability to write at length, critically and articulately, on subjects that are both challenging and rewarding and vary in subject matter from Greek Art to The Fall of the Roman Republic. It is an approach that makes for a fascinating mix that is as stimulating as it is refreshing.