Ancient history degree personal statement example (1e) Birmingham offer

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Ancient History focuses not only on classical Greece and Rome, but also on the evolution of the fundamental differences between an array of cultures and people that influenced the shape of Europe. By exploring the contrasts between the major empires that existed and how their clashes impacted on the landscape that followed, I believe we can gain a deeper appreciation for how our own society has been influenced by the successes and failures of what has preceded us. It is this unmatched exploration of the foundations of the modern world and how history has been dictated by both the imperial and every day from across ancient Europe that deserves further study in order to fully assess its impact today.

Individuals have always been seen as influential to the state of society and how these ancient empires were shaped. I am interested in the role of Roman women in these hierarchies and how despite their duties within the Vestals, they were viewed as a lesser class. “The First Ladies of Rome” counteracts this portrayal of women by examining how their actions impacted upon the reigns of well-known emperors. Revealing how females such as Livia and Messalina politically manipulated imperial figures like Tiberius and Claudius dispels preconceptions about ancient women whilst providing an interesting insight into local and imperial government. However, gender roles meant that although granted more freedom than expected with minor political issues, cultural taboos like infidelity, as mentioned by Valerius Maximus who discusses marriage in Rome for everyday women, show how they were governed by conservative traditions that preceded Roman liberalism. While I agree that women and sexuality had influence within political spheres, I believe that the radical examples used weaken the strength of the argument as it emphasises the experiences of women close to imperial power, a reality many women would not have been directly exposed to.

The ancient civilisations allow us to view the modern world from a new perspective whilst also giving insight into this unique period through the history, politics and art that helped to define it. It is this that encapsulates the ever-changing nature of this discipline, one that I wish to study in order to gain a better understanding of not only our society, but the nature of history itself.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

As a Villiers Park Scholar, I attended a residential course on “Hidden Histories: Sourcing the Past.” Not only did I explore written and physical historiography and its contexts, but I could also see how ancient sources can create a holistic view of events through contrasting these records with modern historians and theories. By comparing Herodotus’ account of the Greco-Persian wars in “Histories” with “History of the Peloponnesian War,” it is possible to see how the early and late Classical periods differed in how to record these military campaigns. Whilst Herodotus emphasises the philosophical enquiries that were being cultivated and what these meant for war, Thucydides’ fact driven analysis shows a change in historiography that carried into the Hellenistic period and could be seen as influencing methods today. By comparing these to accounts of the opposition, such as “The Spartans: An Epic History,” it is possible to see how the Spartans used their military to represent their political power, which contrasts with Herodotus’ spiritual ideas of Greek armies being positively influenced by divine intervention. I feel that this is an interesting deviation that shows the importance of religion within Grecian culture, but I think also reveals a dependency on faith which impeded the philosophical and scientific development of Greece when compared to Rome.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

I spend my free time painting and reading ancient poetry. These artistic mediums give me an insight into how scenes from the ancient world were captured in such vivid and thought-provoking pieces.

Universities applied to:

• Durham
• Birmingham
• Nottingham
• Reading
• Kent

Grades achieved:

• English Language and Literature - A*
• Media Studies - A*
• History - B
• Biology AS - D

How personal statements have changed?

The current personal statement format, with three 'scaffolding' questions, was introduced by Ucas in September 2025. This personal statement was submitted before then, using the old essay-style format. It has been carefully edited into the three-question format, with all of the original wording kept.

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