GCSE Classical Civilisation – Term 6

Course Overview

This two-year course is ideal for students from about 14 and above with an interest in the world of ancient Greece and Rome  – the world of the Lord Jesus and the Early Church. No prior knowledge of Greek or Latin is required.

The course covers the OCR specification for GCSE Classical Civilisation. The route chosen for Year 1 is Myth & Religion. Year 2 is TBC.

Course Method

Students study elements of the literature and visual/material culture of Greece and Rome and develop an understanding of their social, historical, and cultural contexts. ‘Rome’ here is primarily taken to mean the city of Rome, although reference may be made to other towns and cities which display typical ‘Roman’ characteristics, e.g. Pompeii.

Teaching includes times of teacher-led discussion, student presentations, and short, focused written tasks. Homework is also set for consolidation and further assessment.

Year 1: Myth & Religion

Students must procure in advance for the first year the text book OCR Classical Civilisation GCSE Route 1: Myth and Religion by Ben Greenley, Dan Menashe, and James Renshaw (Bloomsbury Academic, 2017, ISBN 9781350014879).

Myth and religion have always been popular areas of study, and this exploration of religion and mythology in the ancient Greek and Roman world therefore promises to be engaging and appealing.

Many learners come to Classical Civilisation due to a love of the mythology of the ancient world, and this course studies myths regarding the role of the gods and heroes in the founding of Athens and Rome and the importance of Heracles/Hercules to both the Greek and Roman world. These are well known stories that students will enjoy engaging with and studying in increased depth. Myth as a symbol of power will also be explored, as will ever popular myths about the underworld.

Students will also look at the role of religion in the everyday lives of ancient Greeks and Romans. The study of temples, sacrifice, festivals, death, and beliefs in the afterlife gives a broad overview of religion in the ancient world, and provides opportunity for the study of a wide variety of material remains, including remarkable temples and works of art. Learners will be required to make informed comparisons between Greek and Roman ideas, including the characteristics of the different societies, and the impact of the different cultural contexts on the theme studied. They will also be expected to use literature and visual/material culture in conjunction with one another in order to inform their judgements, including discussion of why or how the sources may present things differently from each other.

Year 2: Roman City Life

More details to follow.

Please note that archaeological evidence for this course may include nudity as appropriate within the context. Throughout the course we explore the differences between the Christian Church and the world in which it grew.

Course Details

Term 6 comprises 8 weekly lessons. Each lesson lasts 60 minutes.

This PX Classroom is held on Wednesdays at 4.15pm (London time zone) starting from Wednesday TBC April 2026. There will be no lessons on TBC or TBC April due to the half-term break. The last lesson is due to be on TBC May 2026.