Tom Holland and Robert Harris Join Classical Studies Promotion Effort

"Bestselling authors, Robert Harris and Tom Holland will launch a programme at the University of Liverpool to introduce more young people to ancient history and languages during Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture.

Robert Harris is best known for his historical novel, Enigma. He has also written books based on the ancient world such as Pompeii. Robert will launch the University’s ‘Classics 08’ programme with fellow author, Tom Holland, known for his popular histories like Rubicon and Persian Fire, based on the late Roman Republic and the Persian Wars.

Designed to encourage both school students and their teachers to take up the study of the ancient world and its languages, ‘Classics 08’ aims is to make both classical culture and languages like Greek and Latin much more widely available.

Classics Lecturer at the University, Eugenie Fernandes, said: “The study of Classics and in particular classical languages has attracted renewed interest in recent years. Blockbuster films such as Gladiator and Alexander the Great have led to a revival of Latin and Greek as well as classical history. Both languages have shown to help students improve reading, comprehension, vocabulary and grammar.

“As part of the initiative we have set up a ‘Classics Club’, held on Saturdays for students over the age of 14, which is proving highly popular. We cover topics such as ancient art and drama, local architecture and archaeology and we also arrange trips to museums and theatres across the country.”

Classics 08 is the first of a number of similar projects expected nationwide as part of the ‘Classics for All’ initiative being launched by the Joint Association of Classical teachers and friends of Classics. For its part, Liverpool’s ‘Classics 08’ is helping schools to introduce classics to the curriculum and providing them with advice and support throughout the academic year."

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Brits announce new ancient history curriculum

I wish curriculum in the United States would incorporate a similar study of ancient history that has been announced in Britain. When I was young, the paltry 200 years of American history consumed most of the history curriculum taught in K-12.

"Teenagers will be able to study the history behind Hollywood blockbusters like Troy and Alexander for a new GCSE it has been announced.

The OCR exam board is devising the ancient history GCSE to cater for a surge in interest in the Romans and ancient Greeks.

Pupils will learn about literature and art and study archaeological evidence for the qualification, which will be taught in schools from September next year.

Clara Kenyon, director of qualifications at OCR, said: "Now GCSE students can study the real history behind the movies and increase their understanding of the great ancient empires."

The course will cover the foundation of Rome, Greece and the Persian wars, Alexander the Great, Hannibal, Cleopatra and Agrippina the Younger.

Teenagers will focus on the study of original sources, such as archaeological evidence and literature in translation.

Pupils will also be able to study aspects of other ancient civilisations, including the Egyptians, the Minoans, Mycenae, the Persian Empire, the Hellenistic world and the Celts.

Hollywood has produced a steady stream of big budget films based on tales from the classical world in recent years, including Troy, starring Brad Pitt as Achilles, and Alexander, in which Colin Farrell played the title role.

Professor Tom Harrison, chairman of the Joint Association of Classical Teachers, welcomed the new course.

He said: "This confirms the growth in the popularity of ancient history as an academic subject. With the huge public interest in the ancient world, classics nationally is buoyant and this new qualification will bring the subject to a younger, even broader, audience."

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