Classical Civilisation

To study this subject at A-level, you will be interested in the culture, history and literature of the ancient world, and want to broaden your horizons further. You may also be interested in the roots of your own society and want to see how they have developed from the ancient Greeks and Romans. You will be writing essays and answering detailed comprehension questions. You will need to be able to communicate ideas effectively in class discussions and express ideas coherently on paper.

It is not necessary to have studied this subject at GCSE and you do not need to know Greek or Latin.

What will you study and learn?

You will study a range of literary, historical and cultural topics, reading primary sources in translation and modern secondary sources.

Course content and examinations

Examination board: OCR A-level (H408)

Candidates have to write essays and answer a series of source based questions. There is a compulsory unit, ‘the world of the hero’, focusing on Homer’s Odyssey and Virgil’s Aeneid. The examination lasts for 2 hours and 20 minutes. This unit is worth 40% of the final qualification. Candidates then study one topic from each of these two units, ‘culture and the arts’ (topics are the Greek theatre, Greek Art, invention of the barbarian and imperial image) and ‘beliefs and ideas’ (topics are love and relationships, politics of the late republic, Greek religion and democracy and the Athenians).

Candidates sit an examination for each unit of 2 hours and 45 minutes each. Each of these 2 units is worth 30% of the final qualification.

Where could the subject take you?

Classical Civilisation is a subject well respected by universities and can lead to a degree course in its own right or in combination with subjects such as Latin, English Literature, modern languages, art, archaeology or philosophy. Careers open to Classical Civilisation graduates include positions in museums and heritage management, teaching, publishing, law, government and the media.