Ancient History

Ancient History – A-Level Qualification

Examining Body:

OCR

Entry Criteria:

A previous qualification in History, or Ancient History, is desirable plus ideally grade 5 GCSE English Language

Course Leader:

Mr J Hoyle

Why? :

An Ancient History qualification is highly regarded by universities and employers. A study of Ancient History gives you transferable skills including essay writing, critical thinking, use of evidence, research and reaching sustained judgement. Students will like this course if they are interested in how the past allows us to understand the present. Ancient History is subject that combines political, military and social histories, and often provides context for events that happened throughout history since. Students will need to be willing to debate and revise their thinking in view of the uncovering of more evidence.

Course Structure:

Component 1: Greek history. This is broken into two sections, a period study and a depth study and is graded with a 2 ½ hour exam at the end of Year 2. The exam contains source questions, an interpretation question and a choice of essay question.

In the period study, students focus on the relations between Greek states, and Greek states and non-Greek states from 492 to 404 BC, particularly Sparta, Athens and Persia. Individual units in the period study include; the challenge of the Persian Empire 492-479, Greece in conflict 479-446, Peace and Conflict 446-431, the Archidamian War 431-420 and the end of the Peloponnesian War and its aftermath 419-404. 

In the depth study, students will learn about the politics and society of Sparta, 478-404 BC. Units include; education in Sparta, the social structure of Sparta, the political structure of Sparta, the Spartan military culture and its importance in the society and politics of Sparta and other state’s views of Sparta and the effect of Spartan system on policy.

Component 2: Roman history. This unit is also divided into a period study and a depth study and is graded with a 2 ½ hour exam at the end of Year 2.  The exam contains source questions, an interpretation and an essay question.

In the period study, students focus on the reigns of the Julio-Claudian emperors. Units include; Augustus 31Bc-AD 14, Tiberius AD 14-37, Gaius AD 37-41, Claudius AD 41-54 and Nero AD 54-68.

In the depth study, students will focus on the unit ‘Ruling Roman Britain, AD 43-c.128. Units include; Roman military policy towards Britain: conquest and expansion, frontier policy: consolidation and retrenchment AD 85-c.128, resistance to Roman rule, Roman control and effects of Roman rule.

Extended Learning:

This will include research and essay writing. Students will be expected to read widely around topic and sometimes present what they have discovered to others in the class.