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 the Persian Empire and its neighbours
The roles and images of Persian kings
Family background and status
Succession to the kingship
Administration of the Persian Empire
Revolts in Egypt and Babylon
Religious policy
Building programs in Persepolis
Foreign policy, including Xerxes’s role in the invasion of the Greek mainland
Relationship with prominent Persians and non-Persians
The manner and impact of Xerxes’s death
Impact and influence
Ancient and modern images and interpretations of Xerxes
Problems of evidence, including the value and limitations of ONE ancient source or type of source, in the context of other available sources