LVV4U Classical Civilization – Grade 12 (University)

PREREQUISITE: English, Grade 10, Academic, or Classical Languages, Level 2, University Preparation

GRADE: 12 (University)

AVAILABILITY: Full-time – All Campuses, Private – All campuses, Blyth Academy Online

THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM: Classical Studies and International Languages

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Course Overview

LVV4U online introduces students to the rich cultural legacy of the Classical world and encourages them to make connections between antiquity and other societies and to their own personal experiences. Students will investigate such aspects of Classical culture as its mythology and literature, art, architecture, philosophy, science, and technology, as well as elements of the ancient Greek and Latin languages. By reading Classical authors in English translation and examining material culture brought to light through archaeology, students will enhance both their communication skills and their ability to think critically and creatively. In LVV4U online, students will also be encouraged to be culturally sensitive, independent learners who appreciate the interconnectedness of ancient and modern societies and who will be able to apply this understanding to their future endeavours.

UNIT ONE
Prehistory & Bronze Age Greece

Essential Question: What were the major characteristics of Bronze Age Aegean civilizations and what are the major archaeological discoveries that contribute to our understanding of these civilizations?

In this unit, students will be introduced to the prehistoric world of Bronze Age Greece, exploring the various factors that shaped the beginnings of the Greek world until the so-called Dark Age. Special attention will be paid to the influence of the landscape and of other Near Eastern civilizations on the early Greeks. Students will be introduced to the Greek warrior civilization of the Mycenaeans, and to their precursors, the mysterious Minoans from Crete. Students will explore these prehistoric beginnings through the lens of archaeology, art, geography and mythology.

UNIT TWO
Archaic Greece

Essential Question: In what ways did the Archaic Age lay the groundwork for the later advancements and innovations of Classical Greece? How do these changes continue to resonate in our world today?

In this unit, students will be introduced to the period of ancient Greece known to historians as the Archaic Age. It is a fascinating period defined by radical change, instability and innovation in almost every aspect of Greek culture and society, including politics, art, architecture and religion. Students will begin by looking at Homer’s epics The Iliad and The Odyssey, the oldest writings of the Western world, before touching on the emergence of key aspects of Greek culture, such as the Olympic games, Greek philosophy and experiments in democracy. Most importantly, the Archaic Age sets the stage for Classical Greece, the height of Greek civilization.

UNIT THREE
Classical Greece

Essential Question:  What is the cultural, philosophical, political, and historical legacy of the Classical Age of Greece?

In this unit, students will be introduced to the height of ancient Greek civilization, a period known to all later generations as the Classical Age. It is during this period that the earlier innovations and experiments of Greek culture flourish. Beginning with an overview of the Persian War, students will then explore the birth of democracy, Greek tragedy, classical sculpture and architecture, and the philosophy of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Students will also look at the tensions and conflicts underlying these great accomplishments, including the Peloponnesian War, the conquests of Alexander the Great, and the resulting spread of Greek civilization across the entire Mediterranean world and beyond.

UNIT FOUR
The Roman Republic

Essential Question: How did the Roman Republic begin, both mythologically and historically? What political, religious and social institutions defined the early Roman Republic?

In this unit, students will be introduced to the development of the Roman Republic and its eventual growth as a dominant force in the Mediterranean world. Students will begin by looking at the Etruscan civilization and explore its influence on Roman society and culture. They will then turn to the birth of the republic itself, focusing on its political and religious institutions, works of art and literature. Students will then investigate the events and figures that led to the collapse of the Republic, with special attention to the life and death of Julius Caesar, as well as the chaotic aftermath of his assassination.

UNIT FIVE
The Roman Empire

Essential Question: What were the main causes of the fall of the Roman Empire? What were the consequences of this fall for later Western civilization? What is the legacy of the Roman Empire on the contemporary world?

In this unit, students will be introduced to the fascinating history and legacy of the Roman Empire. Beginning with the emergence of Augustus as the first emperor of Rome, students will explore the age of classical Rome, the Pax Romana, and investigate the classical art, architecture and literature of this period. Students will look at the lives of the emperors, the expansion of the empire across the majority of the European continent, and the changing social and cultural realities of this civilization as it moves from its classical age to its eventual decline and fall. Throughout the unit, students will critically assess the legacy of the Roman Empire and its accomplishments in today’s modern world.

Please consult our Frequently Asked Questions Page or the Exam section within your course for more details on final exams and the exam fee. More information can also be found in our Student Handbook.

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