Knowledge of the material

Knowledge of the material

Understand the Greek World

• Familiarise yourself with Greek mythology. Stories of gods and heroes permeated the daily life and values of the ancient Greeks.
• Learn the basic geography of the ancient Greek world, including key city-states such as Athens and Sparta.
• Understand how the social structure of ancient Greece, including distinctions between free citizens, metics (foreigners living in a Greek city-state), and slaves.

Explore Greek Literature

• Study the epic poems of Homer, the Iliad and the Odyssey, as well as their influence on Greek culture and society.
• Analyse the tragedies and comedies of Greek drama, understanding the conventions of Greek theatre.
• Familiarise yourself with the historical works of Herodotus and Thucydides, the foundations of Western historiography.

Delve into Greek Culture

• Understand the role of religion in Greek society, including rituals, festivals, and the pantheon of Greek gods.
• Explore Greek philosophy and science, especially the ideas of philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.
• Familiarise yourself with Greek art and architecture, especially as reflected in surviving sculptures, pottery, and buildings.

Examine Greek History

• Study major historical events, such as the Persian Wars and the Peloponnesian War, and their influence on Greek society and culture.
• Understand the rise and fall of the Athenian Empire, drawing insights from political and military history.
• Examine the dynamics of democracy and oligarchy in Greek politics, especially in Athens and Sparta.

Analyse Primary Sources

• Develop skills to analyse primary sources, including inscriptions, pottery, and texts.
• Learn to contextualise these sources within their wider social, cultural, and historical contexts.
• Understand how to evaluate the reliability and usefulness of primary sources in constructing interpretations of Greek life and culture.