Classical Civilisation

Course summary

This course is becoming increasingly popular both at school and university level and offers a variety of topics from the Ancient Greek and Roman world. You will be expected to study each topic in detail with special reference to selected texts and, since the material is all in English, you can explore the topics in depth and will have the opportunity to relate various works of literature to their social and cultural contexts. You will be encouraged to appreciate literary techniques, to collect relevant evidence and to develop and present arguments based on your findings. The course is not only literary but also involves the appreciation of social values and an understanding of both the historical and archaeological background. By the end of the course you will be able to appreciate distinctive Ancient Greek and Roman ways of thought and feeling. The course also involves the aesthetic appreciation of works of art. As well as studying art and literature in school there will be opportunities to attend performances of Greek plays and to visit museums in which material remains from the Ancient World are on display.