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 Egypt in the Near East
Features of Eighteenth Dynasty political and religious authority
The role and contribution of rulers from Amenhotep III to Ramesses II
The Amarna ‘revolution’ and the reasons for its failure
Post-Amarna reforms, restoration of Amun and other gods
Political and religious significance of building programs
The changing role and contribution of queens, including Tiye, Nefertiti, Ankhesenamun and Nefertari
The maintenance and administration of the ‘empire’ in Nubia
The maintenance and administration of the ‘sphere of influence’ in the Levant, including the relationship with vassal rulers
Ramesside imperialism, military campaigns and their impacts on Egyptian–Hittite relations
The course and consequences of the Battle of Kadesh, including the Egyptian–Hittite peace treaty
The role of the image of the ‘warrior pharaoh’