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NSW Curriculum
NSW Education Standards Authority

11–12Ancient History 11–12 Syllabus

Record of changes
Implementation from 2027
Expand for detailed implementation advice

Content

Life Skills

Life Skills for Stage 6

Through collaborative curriculum planning, it may be decided that Life Skills outcomes and content are the most appropriate option for some students with intellectual disability.

Investigating ancient history – Case studies

The following case studies are suggestions only. Teachers may develop ideas and concepts from these case studies to support student interests and abilities. Students may participate in a single case study, part of a case study, or elements of content as appropriate.

Case studies from Egypt, Greece, Rome and Celtic Europe

  • Old Kingdom Egypt
  • Tutankhamun’s tomb
  • Deir el-Medina
  • Alexandria
  • Thera
  • Troy
  • The Roman games
  • The Celts
  • Boudicca
  • The Valley of the Queens
  • Mycenae
  • Greek drama
  • The Etruscans
  • The impact of expansion on Rome
  • Tiberius Gracchus
  • The city of Rome
  • Roman Britain

Case studies from Australia, Asia, the Near East and the Americas

  • Ancient Australia
  • The Shang dynasty
  • Ashoka
  • Nineveh
  • Persepolis
  • Civilisations of the river – Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley
  • Masada
  • Palmyra and the Silk Road
  • Teotihuacan
  • Jericho
  • Lachish
  • The Akkadian Empire
  • Carthage
  • Hannibal and the Punic Wars
  • The Battle of Red Cliffs
  • The Moche
  • The early Maya

Teachers may develop their own case studies, where appropriate, to meet student interests and abilities. If they do so, they should consider the following aspects in their case study:

  • relevance to the present
  • key historical features and issues
  • the roles of individuals and groups within their chosen context
  • key events and/or developments, and how they shape the past
  • the significance of the site, individual or society
  • impact and legacy
Connections and context
  • Significant events in their own life

  • Chronology of events in their own life

  • Significant people and places in their own life

  • Features of where they live

  • Significant artefacts from their own time and recent previous generations

  • Important characteristics of their own family, familiar groups and the community

  • Chronology of the selected case study, including placement in time of the society

  • Location and geographical features of the selected case study

  • Significant people, places, artefacts and events of the selected case study

  • The defining characteristics of the society of the selected case study

  • Connections to people, places or events of the selected case study

Sources and evidence
  • Early excavations and archaeological discoveries

  • Sites of importance for the selected case study

  • Sources and what they tell us about the selected case study

  • Different interpretations or representations of the selected case study over time

  • Methods of scientific analysis, including forensic techniques

  • Areas of historical controversy

  • Changing perspectives over time

  • Reliability and limitations of sources

Features of the society
  • Significant people and their impact

  • Way of life for different groups of people

  • Beliefs, spiritualities and practices, and why they were important

  • Role and status of different groups in the society

  • Interactions with neighbouring societies

  • The nature of weapons and warfare

  • Causes of conflict

  • Impacts of conflict

  • Significant aspects of culture, including traditions and celebrations

  • Developments in science, technology or medicine

  • How people participated in entertainment and recreation

  • Rise and decline of people, places and culture

  • Importance of sites to key groups of people

  • Status and depiction of different people, places and events

Significance and legacy
  • 21st-century archaeology and ethical issues

  • Continuing traditions and practices

  • Influence of people, places or events of the selected case study on the modern world

  • Significance of the site today

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