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Contact person: Mrs Woolnough
Contact person: Mrs Woolnough
Units: 2 units
Units: 2 units
Course overview:
Course overview:
'Ancient History' is the period from about 3000 BC to the fall of the Roman Empire in AD 476. Ancient History explores the fascinating world of ancient societies, cultures, and individuals. Students investigate key events, people, places, and ideas from the past, building their understanding of how ancient civilisations shaped the modern world. A core aspect of the course is the critical use of sources and evidence - both physical and written - to analyse the past, question interpretations, and form conclusions about historical events and perspectives.
Course structure and requirements:
Course structure and requirements:
Preliminary course (Year 11) – 120 indicative hours
Investigating Ancient History
The Nature of Ancient History (e.g. Ancient Sites and Sources, the Treatment and Display of Human Remains.
Case Studies (e.g. Boudicca, Persepolis, the Roman Games)
Features of Ancient Societies (e.g. women in Rome and Greece, weapons and warfare)
Historical Investigation
HSC course (Year 12) – 120 indicative hours
Core Study: Cities of Vesuvius – Pompeii and Herculaneum
Ancient Societies (e.g. Spartan society, New Kingdom Egypt)
Personalities in Their Times (e.g. Julius Caesar, Akhenaten)
Historical Periods (e.g. New Kingdom Egypt to the Death of Thutmose IV, The Greek World 500–440 BC)
Skills developed:
Skills developed:
Valuable to have: Interest in history, curiosity about the past, and willingness to read and research
Skills developed:
Critical thinking and analysis
Interpreting and evaluating sources
Researching and constructing historical arguments
Synthesising information to form conclusions
Clear communication of ideas
Students need to be prepared to:
Analyse different perspectives
Question interpretations and construct their own arguments
Regularly revise and practise at home to develop knowledge and skills
Assessment requirements:
Assessment requirements:
Year 11:
3 assessment tasks, such as:
source analysis
an Historical Investigation
a formal written examination
Year 12:
4 assessment tasks, such as:
source analysis
research essay
an Historical Analysis
a formal written examination (Trial HSC)
The HSC Examination includes:
Section I – Core: Cities of Vesuvius – Pompeii and Herculaneum (25 marks)
There will be three or four questions
This section will require candidates to analyse and interpret sources and apply their own knowledge
Section II – Ancient Societies (25 marks)
There will be one question for the chosen topic
Questions will contain three or four parts
Section III – Personalities in their Times (25 marks)
There will be one question for the chosen topic
Questions will contain two or three parts
Section IV – Historical Periods (25 marks)
There will be one extended-response question for the chosen topic
Each question will have two alternatives
Future careers and possible study paths:
Future careers and possible study paths:
Ancient History complements Modern History, Legal Studies, Society and Culture, and English. It supports pathways in archaeology, research, education, law, museums, journalism, cultural heritage, and public policy. University study options include history, archaeology, anthropology, law, and humanities degrees.
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