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11–12Ancient History 11–12 Syllabus

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Implementation from 2027
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Content

Year 11

Investigating ancient history – Case studies

Students study TWO case studies, choosing ONE from List A and ONE from List B. The studies may incorporate methods and issues involved in investigating the ancient past, as relevant.

Teachers may develop their own case studies. These may be designed to provide a context for options selected in the Year 12 course. However, case studies must not overlap with or duplicate significantly any option to be attempted in the Year 12 Ancient History or History Extension courses. Teacher-developed case studies must follow the geographical division indicated in Lists A and B.

List A: Case studies from Egypt, Greece, Rome and Celtic Europe

  • List A: Old Kingdom Egypt
  • List A: Tutankhamun’s tomb
  • List A: Deir el-Medina
  • List A: Alexandria
  • List A: Thera
  • List A: Troy
  • List A: The Roman games
  • List A: The Celts
  • List A: Boudicca

List B: Case studies from Australia, Asia, the Near East and the Americas

  • List B: Ancient Australia
  • List B: The Shang dynasty
  • List B: Ashoka
  • List B: Nineveh
  • List B: Persepolis
  • List B: Civilisations of the river – Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley
  • List B: Masada
  • List B: Palmyra and the Silk Road
  • List B: Teotihuacan

Other possible case studies related to List A could include:

  • the Valley of the Queens
  • Mycenae
  • Greek drama
  • the Etruscans
  • the impact of expansion on Rome
  • Tiberius Gracchus
  • the city of Rome
  • Roman Britain.

Other possible case studies related to List B could include:

  • Jericho
  • Lachish
  • the Akkadian Empire
  • Carthage
  • Hannibal and the Punic Wars
  • the Battle of Red Cliffs
  • the Moche
  • the early Maya.

Teacher-developed case studies must include the aspects of study identified in the following framework:

  • the geographical and historical context
  • the range and issues of sources
  • the historical features, people, places, events and developments of the ancient world selected for study
  • differing interpretations and representations.
List B: Palmyra and the Silk Road
The geographical and historical context
  • The location of the site of Palmyra

  • The development of the city from an agricultural village into the hub of the Silk Road

  • The significance of the Silk Road and the nature of trade

The range and issues of sources
  • Archaeological sources, such as the Great Colonnade, the Tariff Court, the Temple of Bel, the Temple of Baalshamin, tombs, the Theatre, coinage and roads

  • Written sources and inscriptions, such as the Historia Augusta and the Palmyrene Tax Tariff

The history of Palmyra
  • Palmyra’s role as a ‘caravan city’ on the east–west trade route and meeting place for various cultures

  • Economic and cultural exchange in Palmyra, the collection of taxes and trade links with India and China

  • The influence of Eastern and Western traditions on language, art, architecture and religion in Palmyra

  • Relations between Palmyra and Rome, including the influence of Queen Zenobia

  • The end of Zenobia’s reign and the decline of Palmyra

  • Differing interpretations and representations of Palmyra and the Silk Road

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