2014 School Magazine

ANCIENT HISTORY EMMA ANSTEY-CODD (12E)

the social order. The opportunity to direct the focus of my essay allowed me to investigate an area that was of great personal interest, a trajectory that was continued in our Term III area of study. The Crusades proved a fruitful source of analysis for our multimodal presentations, and once again gave each girl the opportunity to engage with a different aspect of the conflict in depth. Many, myself included, chose to examine the Third Crusade, drawn to its polarising leaders Richard I and Saladin. The notion of crusading has become a topical issue in light of contemporary conflicts, providing us with an opportunity to draw comparisons between our modern and ancient worlds. Building upon this, I have found that Ancient History has allowed me to engage with the past, understanding the traits we share with our ancestors and the events that shaped the modern world. ■

STUDY OF RELIGION EUGENIE SMITH (12M) To help us upcoming philosophers, the Year 12 Study of Religion girls were lucky to have guest speaker Dr Julie Arliss, a lecturer at Kings College who also works in close association with Oxford University and Exeter University. Dr Arliss guided us through a range of simple concepts, varying from personal identity and the afterlife, to the origins of the universe. She really was highly engaging, and I know I was almost in a trance as she started teasing out these concepts with some scenarios. Did J.K Rowling really just reveal to the world what happens in the afterlife? Is the big bang theory the absolute and only beginning? Would my clone really be me? The philosophy lecture allowed me to get a better grasp on some philosophical concepts I had never come across. Through these questions, scenarios and constant questioning she really brought the lecture to life and forced me to consider the essence of what I truly am. ■ Senior Ancient History has been an extremely engaging course, with areas of study ranging from the Ancient Romans to the Medieval Crusades. In Term I, our Year 12 historians delved into the world of the Roman Republic, discovering the power plays and political backstabbing (sometimes quite literally) of the emperors. We explored the tenuous relationship of competitors Pompey and Caesar and focused upon the significance of individuals in the collapse of the Republic. Our Term II unit allowed us to broaden our focus with an academic essay on the concept of power in the ancient world. I chose to study the portrayal of women in the Ancient Greek plays and how this reflected their role in

Study of Religion (SOR) provides students with a greater understanding of our world and the people that inhabit it. It is a subject that revolves around the many beliefs and theories of humankind that shape and make up the Earth. What does an Ancient Egyptian creation myth reveal about the purpose and role of humanity? How central is prayer to the Islamic faith? Do humans innately possess characteristics when they’re born? Questions like these have been investigated and explored in class this year, which have aided us not only as students, but also as humans, to try and piece together the massive jigsaw that is this world and its perspectives. We have delved into Freud, religious rituals, and ideas on the origins of creation, to name a few of the complex and compelling topics we have studied this year. We have visited a Buddhist temple and an Islamic mosque, and been privileged to hear the thoughts of many inspiring and expert thinkers. In SOR, we have been exposed to contrasting beliefs and ideas that have helped us look at religion and humanity under different lights, as well as form an understanding and appreciation of them. GRACE JEREMY (12E)

Eugenie Smith (12M) and Claudia Cameron (12B) with Kings College lecturer Dr Julie Arliss.

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