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
Students develop an understanding of ONE ancient personality, through the investigation of a range of archaeological and written sources 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 personalities:
- Egypt – Hatshepsut
- Egypt – Akhenaten
- The Near East – Xerxes
- China – Qin Shi Huangdi
- Greece – Pericles
- Greece – Alexander the Great
- Rome – Julius Caesar
- Rome – Agrippina the Younger.
The geography of Egypt and its neighbours
The political and religious roles of the Egyptian king and queen
Family background
Marriage to Thutmose II
Claim to the throne and succession, including the Divine Birth and Coronation reliefs
Religious policy, including devotion to Amun and the promotion of other cults
Building programs, including Deir el-Bahri, Karnak, Speos Artemidos and the tombs of Hatshepsut
Foreign policy and military campaigns, including the expedition to Punt
Titles and changes to Hatshepsut’s royal image over time
Relationship with the Amun priesthood, nobles and officials, including Senenmut
Relationship with Thutmose III, co-regency and later defacement of Hatshepsut’s monuments
Impact and influence
Ancient and modern images and interpretations of Hatshepsut
Problems of evidence, including the value and limitations of ONE ancient source or type of source, in the context of other available sources