Ancient World / Classics Essay Competition 2014-15 All essays can be discussed with reference to any periods, texts and / or objects of your choice. They are deliberately wide-ranging in order for you to be able to find the angle you want to take. Essay topic Choose one of the following titles: 1. How important is it that we know when and where an ancient text was written? 2. Discuss the representation of either a) children or b) the elderly in texts and/or images of your choice. 3. "Trade for profit was of small importance in the ancient world" Discuss with reference to a period and region of your choice. 4. Discuss racism in the ancient world, with reference to any period and region of your choice. 5. Discuss the relevance of any ancient philosophical work you have read to modern political or ethical debates. 6. "The study of art and/or archaeology reveals people the texts ignore." Discuss with reference to a period and region of your choice. All essays can be answered with reference to any period and region of the ancient world, broadly interpreted. Set texts may be used, but students are also encouraged to research independently of school work. Competition Rules This essay competition is for Lower Sixth Formers (Year 12s). It is aimed at all those in the Lower Sixth form taking Classics and/or Classical Civilization A-levels/Highers/IB, or those with an interest in the Ancient World who currently studying other subjects. Applicants will be required to enter their details online and to upload one copy of their essay electronically. Teachers of students with winning and commended essays will be contacted to certify that the essay is the entrant’s own work, and not part of any coursework submitted for an examination. Essays should be less than 2500 words long, and contain a list of works consulted and cited at the end. The word limit should include footnotes but exclude the bibliography. Closing Date The closing date for this competition is Monday 16th March 2015. Prizes The prize fund is £300 with a first prize of £200. Certificates of merit may be awarded to runners up who have sufficiently impressed the judges. The College reserves the right not to award prizes if there is no entry of sufficient merit. Prizes and certificates will be awarded at Fitzwilliam College during the University Open Days in July 2015. Classics at Fitzwilliam At Fitzwilliam we are keen to promote the study of Classics in all its forms - linguistic, literary, historical, philosophical and archaeological, and this is reflected in the range of essay titles. The Director of Studies welcomes enquiries from prospective students and is keen that students with keen interest in the ancient world can find a course here to interest them. Alongside the three and four year Classics course, we also welcome students who wish to make use of the flexibility of the tripos system to study subjects that reflect their particular interests in the Ancient World. Students may, for example, apply to do Part I HSPS (which involves areas such as Archaeology and Egyptology / Assyriology) (in one year) and Part II Classics (in two years), if their interests in the Ancient (Greek and Roman) World are more specifically historical and archaeological. Dr Sara Owen Director of Studies in Classics Fitzwilliam College Cambridge [email protected]