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 Rome in the Mediterranean and the Near East
The legacy of Augustus
The changing nature of the principate and role of the princeps: Tiberius, Gaius, Claudius and Nero
The changing roles and responsibilities of the Senate
The political role of the Praetorian Guard
The role and influence of imperial women, including Livia, Julia, Agrippina the Elder and Agrippina the Younger
The imperial family and problems of succession
The changing image of the princeps, including the development of the imperial cult throughout the empire
The reforms and policies of the Julio-Claudian rulers
The nature and significance of building programs under the Julio-Claudian rulers
The development of the imperial bureaucracy, including the role of freedmen
The role of Nero in the fall of the Julio-Claudian dynasty
The political role of the army and its relationship with the princeps
Expansion and consolidation of the empire, including resistance and rebellions