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Exploring the classical world

This module is for anyone interested in ancient Greece and Rome. You'll investigate a wide range of topics, such as Homer’s poetry and the society where it was created; fifth-century Athens; republican Rome; and Roman social history. This module explores ancient poetry, drama and historical texts in English translations, along with art, architecture and archaeological evidence to build an understanding of the classical world. Whether your interest in Greece and Rome is long-standing or new, this module will give you a fresh perspective, develop your skills in analysis and evaluation and lay a firm foundation for further exploration.

Modules count towards OU qualifications

OU qualifications are modular in structure; the credits from this undergraduate module could count towards a certificate of higher education, diploma of higher education, foundation degree or honours degree.

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Module

Module code

A229

Credits

Credits

  • Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
  • One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
  • You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
  • For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
60

Study level

Across the UK, there are two parallel frameworks for higher education qualifications, the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (FHEQ) and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). These define a hierarchy of levels and describe the achievement expected at each level. The information provided shows how OU module levels correspond to these frameworks.
Level of Study
OU SCQF FHEQ
2 8 5

Study method

Module cost

Entry requirements

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What you will study

The civilisations of classical Greece and Rome are, in many respects, far removed from our own but are nevertheless highly relevant to contemporary culture.

You'll begin with the overall geography and history of the classical world to gain a framework in which you can situate the individual cultures and periods that you'll study in this module. It will also provide background knowledge for further modules in classical studies that you may wish to take in the future.

After this introduction, the module is organised historically, allowing you to study a range of different topics in chronological order, moving from Greece to Rome. However, it isn't simply a run through history, as you'll engage in depth with a selection of particularly interesting aspects of the classical world. The common theme running throughout the module is an exploration of what made different places and times culturally distinctive and how we can try to understand them so many years later. The module is divided into the following six sections:

Introduction 
This will help you think about the methods that we can use to study the classical world and introduce you to the sources at our disposal. It will also let you familiarise yourself with key features of Greek and Roman geography and history.

Block 1: Homer and the Early Greek World 
This block focuses on early Greek culture and society by looking at literary texts and material evidence from the period from around 800 to 500 BCE. You'll explore the epics that relate to the stories of the Trojan War, which are attributed to the poet Homer – the Iliad and the Odyssey – and other poetic texts from this period, as well as material culture exploring themes of heroes, gods, women and people who were not Greeks.

Block 2: Classical Athens 
This block explores society and culture within Athens in the fifth century BCE. You will explore four major cultural products of the fifth century BCE: Aeschylus' tragedy, the Persians; the buildings on the Acropolis; Pericles’ Funeral Speech; and Aristophanes' comedy Lysistrata. These sources have a shared focus: the Athenians' understanding of their own identity as Athenians.

Block 3: The Roman Republic 
This block examines Roman cultural identity, starting from Greek settlement in Italy to the expansion of the Roman Republic in Italy, the organisation of the Roman Republic, the reputations of members of the Roman elite and the city of Rome. Your work then explores four important figures from Roman history: Spartacus – the leader of a slave revolt; the poet Catullus; the orator Cicero; and the general Julius Caesar.

Block 4: Rome – City and People 
This block turns to social history. You'll learn about the population of Rome, how it was organised socially, slavery, family life, and mass entertainment shows in the city of Rome. You'll work closely with ancient sources, including the letters of the Younger Pliny and of Cicero and inscriptions on tombstones.

Block 5: Revision and Retrospection 
This block will help you to look back and pull together the threads that run through the module in preparation for the end-of-module assessment, which will be an extended essay.

You will learn

As you go through the module, you will:

  • acquire a broad knowledge of the political, social and cultural history as well as the geography of the classical world
  • acquire a broad knowledge and understanding of the various disciplines that make up classical studies and develop your ability to practise the methods of enquiry used by these disciplines
  • develop your ability to examine critically different kinds of ancient material and modern interpretations of this material
  • develop skills to communicate your knowledge and understanding in an appropriately scholarly manner.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance.

Assessment

The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box.

Future availability

Exploring the classical world starts once a year – in October. This page describes the module that will start in October 2025. We expect it to start for the last time in October 2029.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

Course work includes:

5 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
2 Interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs)
End-of-module assessment


Entry requirements

This is an OU level 2 module and builds on the OU level 1 modules Discovering the arts and humanities (A111) and either Cultures (A112) or Revolutions (A113). These OU level 1 modules develop skills such as logical thinking, clear expression, essay writing and the ability to select and interpret relevant materials. They also offer an introduction to a range of subjects in the arts and humanities. If you have not studied at university level before, you are strongly advised to study at OU level 1 before progressing to OU level 2 study.

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.

Preparatory work

If you have not taken an OU level 1 module in the arts, you will find it useful to have The Arts Good Study Guide (E. Chambers and A. Northedge, The Open University), which will help you to develop your study skills.

Register

Start End England fee Register
05 Oct 2024 Jun 2025 -

Registration now closed

This module is expected to start for the last time in October 2029.

Additional Costs

Study costs

There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.

If your income is not more than £25,000 or you receive a qualifying benefit, you might be eligible for help with some of these costs after your module has started.

Ways to pay for this module

Open University Student Budget Account

The Open University Student Budget Accounts Ltd (OUSBA) offers a convenient 'pay as you go' option to pay your OU fees, which is a secure, quick and easy way to pay. Please note that The Open University works exclusively with OUSBA and is not able to offer you credit facilities from any other provider. All credit is subject to status and proof that you can afford the repayments.

You pay the OU through OUSBA in one of the following ways:

  • Register now, pay later – OUSBA pays your module fee direct to the OU. You then repay OUSBA interest-free and in full just before your module starts. 0% APR representative. This option could give you the extra time you may need to secure the funding to repay OUSBA.
  • Pay by instalments – OUSBA calculates your monthly fee and number of instalments based on the cost of the module you are studying. APR 5.1% representative.

Joint loan applications

If you feel you would be unable to obtain an OUSBA loan on your own due to credit history or affordability issues, OUSBA offers the option to apply for a joint loan application with a third party. For example, your husband, wife, partner, parent, sibling or friend. In such cases, OUSBA will be required to carry out additional affordability checks separately and/or collectively for both joint applicants who will be jointly and severally liable for loan repayments.

As additional affordability checks are required when processing joint loan applications, unfortunately, an instant decision cannot be given. On average the processing time for a joint loan application is five working days from receipt of the required documentation.

Read more about Open University Student Budget Accounts (OUSBA).

Employer sponsorship

Studying with The Open University can boost your employability. OU courses are recognised and respected by employers for their excellence and the commitment they take to complete. They also value the skills that students learn and can apply in the workplace.

More than one in ten OU students are sponsored by their employer, and over 30,000 employers have used the OU to develop staff so far. If the module you’ve chosen is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could approach your employer to see if they will sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees. 

  • Your employer just needs to complete a simple form to confirm how much they will be paying and we will invoice them.
  • You won’t need to get your employer to complete the form until after you’ve chosen your module.  

Credit/debit card

You can pay part or all of your tuition fees upfront with a debit or credit card when you register for each module. 

We accept American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Visa Electron. 

Mixed payments

We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may wish to pay part of your tuition fee with a debit card and pay the remainder in instalments through an Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA).


Please note: your permanent address/domicile will affect your fee status and, therefore, the fees you are charged and any financial support available to you. The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2025. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules

This information was provided on 04/10/2024.

Can you study an Access module for free?

Depending on eligibility and availability of places, you could apply to study your Access module for free.

To qualify, you must:

  1. be resident in England
  2. have a household income of not more than £25,000 (or be in receipt of a qualifying benefit)
  3. have not completed one year or more on any full-time undergraduate programme at FHEQ level 4 or above or successfully completed 30 credits or more of OU study within the last 10 years

How to apply to study an Access module for free

Once you've started the registration process, either online or over the phone, we'll contact you about your payment options. This will include instructions on how you can apply to study for free if you are eligible and funded places are still available.

If you're unsure if you meet the criteria to study for free, you can check with one of our friendly advisers on +44 (0)300 303 0069, or you can request a call back.

Not eligible to study for free?

Don't worry! We offer a choice of flexible ways to help spread the cost of your Access module. The most popular options include:

  • monthly payments through OUSBA
  • part-time tuition fee loan (you'll need to be registered on a qualification for this option)

To explore all the options available to you, visit Fees and Funding.

What's included

Module books, other printed material and a module website which includes:

  • audio and video materials
  • maps of the ancient world
  • audio pronunciation guide of ancient names
  • a week-by-week study planner
  • assessment guide
  • online tutorials and forums

Computing requirements

You’ll need broadband internet access and a desktop or laptop computer with an up-to-date version of Windows (10 or 11) or macOS Ventura or higher.

Any additional software will be provided or is generally freely available.

To join in spoken conversations in tutorials, we recommend a wired headset (headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone).

Our module websites comply with web standards, and any modern browser is suitable for most activities.

Our OU Study mobile app will operate on all current, supported versions of Android and iOS. It’s not available on Kindle.

It’s also possible to access some module materials on a mobile phone, tablet device or Chromebook. However, as you may be asked to install additional software or use certain applications, you’ll also require a desktop or laptop, as described above.

Materials to buy

Set books

  • Gwynn, D.M. The Roman Republic: A Very Short Introduction Oxford University Press £8.99 - ISBN 9780199595112
  • Homer: Verity, A. (trans.) The Iliad Oxford University Press £8.99 - ISBN 9780199645213
  • Pomeroy, S.B., et al. (ed) A Brief History of Ancient Greece: Politics, Society, and Culture (International 4th edn) Oxford University Press £42.99 - ISBN 9780190925369
  • Radice, B. (trans.) The Letters of the Younger Pliny Penguin £12.99 - ISBN 9780140441277

If you have a disability

The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying A229 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.

To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our disability support pages.