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Classical Civilisation
AS only
The course is more closely linked to Ancient History as the two units studied both concentrate on the politics, life and society of ancient Rome in the period before Rome was ruled by the emperors. The beauty of this course is that the main textbooks are written by eyewitness historians and politicians from ancient Rome. These primary texts are written by Livy, Plutarch and Cicero and read closely by our students.
If you enjoy literature and history you will appreciate much of what is valuable in this course.
Unit 1 – The Second Punic War.
In this unit students prepare for an exam in June by looking at the main events surrounding the Carthaginian general Hannibal’s invasion of Italy and the years of war that followed. Hannibal and Carthage came very close to destroying Rome and its civilisation. Livy and Plutarch are our main sources for this war and their writing remains vibrant and very accessible to the general reader.
Unit 2 – The Life and Times of Cicero.
In this unit, also examined in June, students look at the background of the Roman Republic in particular how this society was structured, who was in charge and how it differed from any other form of government at the time. We follow the life and career of Cicero whose letters and speeches survive as an invaluable account of the events where Julius Caesar dominated society and led to the transition of Rome from a Republic to an Empire.
A Level Classics is one of the most respected courses by universities. This course gives a good grounding for a degree in any of the arts yet is particularly suitable for those wishing to pursue studies in history, ancient history, classics, politics and literature. Classicists and ancient historians enjoy a high reputation as accurate analytical thinkers.
Qualification(s)
Specific Entry Requirements
Reasonable fluency and accuracy in spoken and written English are essential if students are to do well and enjoy this course. Students are expected to have a strong curiosity into the life and times of the Roman world in the period of the Republic.
Results
SUMMER 2010
A - C grade: 73%
Highlights: 53% of learners achieved an 'A-B 'grade. This is well above the national figure.