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11–12Ancient History 11–12 Syllabus

Record of changes
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: The Shang dynasty
The geographical and historical context
  • The rise of the Shang and the geographical extent of the Shang state

The range and issues of sources
  • Archaeological sources, such as royal tombs and bronze artefacts

  • The significance of Anyang, including archaeological methods employed at the site, the royal cemetery and discovery of the tomb of Lady Fu Hao

  • Written sources, such as oracle bones

The nature of the Shang dynasty
  • The structure of the Shang state, including the role of the king, the role of the military and the status of women

  • Prominent individuals, including Emperor Wu Ding and Lady Fu Hao

  • Features of the Shang society, such as the system of writing, the calendar, bronze craftsmanship, and religion, including ancestor worship and human sacrifice

  • The reasons for the fall of the Shang dynasty

  • Differing interpretations and representations of the Shang dynasty

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