Ancient History

Level 3 Pathway - In order to enrol onto our Level 3 courses, students must have achieved a minimum of 5 grade 4s at GCSE Level across 4 different subject areas; this should ideally include a Grade 4 for English Language and Mathematics.

It is important that students also pay attention to any individual subject entry requirements.

It may be that a small number of students are recommended to sit AS qualifications at the end of Year 12 in order to inform decisions about progression into Year 13, however these AS examinations are standalone and do not contribute to the overall A Level qualification.

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 a 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 view of the uncovering of more evidence.

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.

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