11–12Ancient History 11–12 Syllabus
The new Ancient History 11–12 Syllabus (2024) is to be implemented from 2027.
2025 and 2026
- Plan and prepare to teach the new syllabus
2027, Term 1
- Start teaching new syllabuses for Year 11
- Start implementing new Year 11 school-based assessment requirements
- Continue to teach the Ancient History Stage 6 Syllabus (2017) for Year 12
2027, Term 4
- Start teaching new syllabuses for Year 12
- Start implementing new Year 12 school-based assessment requirements
2028
- First HSC examination for new syllabus
Content
Year 12
Through an investigation of the archaeological and written sources of ONE historical period, students learn about the nature of power and authority, significant developments that shaped the historical period, and relevant historiographical issues.
The historical concepts and skills content is to be integrated as appropriate.
Students study key features of ONE of the following historical periods:
- New Kingdom Egypt to the death of Thutmose IV
- New Kingdom Egypt – Amenhotep III to the death of Ramesses II
- The Levant in the period c. 869–586 BCE
- Persia – Cyrus II to the death of Darius III
- Imperial China – the Qin and Han 247–87 BCE
- The Greek world 500–440 BCE
- Greece from 404 BCE to the death of Philip II
- The fall of the Roman Republic 78–42 BCE
- The Augustan Age 44 BCE–14 CE
- The Julio-Claudians 14–68 CE.
The chronological and geographical context of China in Asia
An overview of the Warring States period 411–221 BCE
Reasons for the success of the Qin, including the unification of the Warring States
The creation of the position of emperor and the nature of imperial power
The political, legal and cultural reforms of the Qin
The role and contribution of Li Si
Reasons for the fall of the Qin, including the problems of succession
The role and contribution of emperors from Gaozu to Jingdi
The nature and role of Confucianism in the Han government
The role of empress dowagers
The reign of Emperor Wudi and his political and cultural reforms
Expansion of the empire, including wars against the Xiongnu
The control and maintenance of the empire, including resistance and rebellion
Administration of the empire