Classical Civilisation

Why study Classical Civilisation?

Classical Civilisation GCSE offers you the chance to pursue an interesting range of topics from the ancient world, looking at their relevance to the modern world and their influence on later culture. It will appeal to anyone who enjoys myths and legends and learning about other societies. It is a broad GCSE in that it incorporates elements of history, religion, literature and archaeology and it thus helps to develop a good range of skills. By the end of the course you will have improved your powers of source analysis, literary appreciation, and essay writing. Students studying Classical Civilisation are encouraged to participate in the Year 10 Classics trip to London as well as the many co-curricular trips and visits run by the LSF Classics Department. They also have priority over non-classicists on the regular overseas trips, previous destinations for which have included Rome and Pompeii, Sicily, Tunisia and Greece. 

What does the course involve? 

The GCSE course requires study of two components: 

Thematic study – Women in the Ancient World OR Myth and Religion 

Women in the Ancient World looks at famous women from both Greek and Roman history and mythology, including Helen of Troy, Pandora, Cleopatra, Lucretia and the sorceress Medea, as well as learning about how women were expected to behave in each society and studying some examples of women with power and women to be feared. 

The Myth and Religion component comprises study of the ancient Greek and Roman gods and goddesses, the foundation myths of Athens and Rome, temples, festivals and the use of mythology as a symbol of power. 

Literature and culture – the Homeric World OR Roman City Life 

Topics encountered in the Homeric World include the cities, daily lives and burial rituals of the people living in the Mycenaean world, alongside five key books of Homer’s Odyssey (in English translation), charting the trials and tribulations of Odysseus as he struggles to return home to Ithaca after the Trojan War, and his battle to regain his kingdom when he gets there. Roman City Life includes the study of Roman housing in Pompeii and Rome, Roman home and family life, the structure of Roman society, and Roman leisure and entertainment, including Roman theatre, chariot racing, gladiatorial games and, of course, the iconic Colosseum. 

How is the course assessed? 

At the end of Year 11 students take two examinations, one on each topic. Each examination lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes and comprises a series of shorter answer questions based on stimulus material, either literary or visual, and extended response questions. There is no controlled assessment for this qualification. 

What can a GCSE in Classical Civilisation lead to?  

Although a GCSE in Classical Civilisation is not essential for the study of any subject at A Level (not even Classical Civilisation!), the range of skills the course helps you to develop and exercise are intrinsic to the study of a wide range of A Level, and degree level, courses, such as English Literature, History, Law, Politics, History of Art, Religious Studies and Sociology.

What skills does the Classical Civilisation course develop?

You will develop a range of key transferable skills in studying the subject, in particular the evaluation of complex facts, research, analysis and communication. All these skills are very useful for future education and professional life. The course encourages you to make informed comparisons between Greek and Roman ideas, including the characteristics of their societies, and the impact of the different cultural contexts on the themes studied. Key elements of this course include: 

Understanding of the civilisation and its culture in its historical and social context, including their art, architecture and artefacts; 

• Reading, understanding and producing a personal response to literature in translation; 

• Thinking about and discussing important concepts involving issues such as family, religion, morality and identity; 
• Studying and developing awareness of the similarities and differences between ancient and modern civilisation.