Ancient History

General Senior Subject

Ancient History prepares students to navigate the issues facing modern society, and to contribute to their resolution.

Ancient Historians produce historical narratives and syntheses of the ancient past that not only convey universal truths about the human condition, but also help us to understand the legacies modern societies have inherited from our forebears. Students gain valuable skills, particularly critical thinking, written communication, and research. A course of study in Ancient History can establish a basis for further education and employment in the fields of archaeology, history, education, psychology, sociology, law, business, economics, politics, journalism, the media, health and social sciences, writing, academia and research.

Prerequisites

Students should have achieved:

a mid C standard (B preferable) or equivalent in 10 Core English and
10 Prep Ancient History

Pathways

A course of study in Ancient History can establish a basis for further education and employment in the fields of:

archaeology
history
education
psychology
sociology
law
business
economics
politics
journalism
the media
health and social sciences
writing
academia
research

Course Information

Course Overview

Ancient History is concerned with studying people, societies and civilisations of the Ancient World, from the development of the earliest human communities to the end of the Middle Ages. Students explore the interaction of societies and the impact of individuals and groups on ancient events and ways of life, enriching their appreciation of humanity and the relevance of the ancient past. Ancient History illustrates the development of some of the distinctive features of modern society which shape our identity, such as social organisation, systems of law, governance and religion. Ancient History highlights how the world has changed, as well as the significant legacies that continue into the present. This insight gives context for the interconnectedness of past and present across a diverse range of societies. Ancient History aims to have students think historically and form a historical consciousness. A study of the past is invaluable in providing students with opportunities to explore their fascination with, and curiosity about, stories of the past and the mysteries of human behaviour.

Throughout the course of study, students develop an understanding of historical issues and problems by interrogating the surviving evidence of ancient sites, societies, individuals, events and significant historical periods. Students investigate the problematic nature of evidence, pose increasingly complex questions about the past and develop an understanding of different and sometimes conflicting perspectives on the past. A historical inquiry process is integral to the study of Ancient History. Students use the skills of historical inquiry to investigate the past. They devise historical questions and conduct research, analyse historical sources and evaluate and synthesise evidence from sources to formulate justified historical arguments. Historical skills form the learning and subject matter provides the context. Learning in context enables the integration of historical concepts and understandings into four units of study: Investigating the Ancient World, Personalities in their times, Reconstructing the Ancient World, and People, power and authority.

A course of study in Ancient History empowers students with multi-disciplinary skills in analysing and evaluating textual and visual sources, constructing arguments, challenging assumptions, and thinking both creatively and critically. Ancient History students become knowledge creators, productive and discerning users of technology, and empathetic, open-minded global citizens.

Structure

Unit 1	Unit 2	Unit 3	Unit 4
Investigating the Ancient World Digging up the past Features of ancient societies	Personalities in their times Personality from the Ancient World 1 Personality from the Ancient World 2	Reconstructing the Ancient World Schools select two of the following historical periods to study in this unit: Thebes — East and West, from the 18th to the 20th Dynasty The Bronze Age Aegean Assyria from Tiglath Pileser III to the fall of the Empire The Ancient Levant — First and Second Temple Period Persia from Cyrus II to Darius III Fifth Century Athens (BCE) Macedonian Empire from Philip II to Alexander III Rome during the Republic Early Imperial Rome from Augustus to Nero Pompeii and Herculaneum Later Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms The Celts and/or Roman Britain The Medieval Crusades Classical Japan until the end of the Heian Period	People, power and authority Schools select one of the following historical periods to study in this unit: Ancient Egypt — New Kingdom Imperialism Ancient Greece — the Persian Wars Ancient Greece — the Peloponnesian War Ancient Carthage and/or Rome — the Punic Wars Ancient Rome — Civil War and the breakdown of the Republic Ancient Rome — the Augustan Age Ancient Rome — Imperial Rome until the fall of the Western Roman Empire Ancient Rome — the Byzantine Empire Schools select one of the personality options that has been nominated by the QCAA for the external assessment. Schools will be notified of the options at least two years before the external assessment is implemented.

Unit 1

Unit 2

Unit 3

Unit 4

Investigating the Ancient World

Digging up the past
Features of ancient societies

Personalities in their times

Personality from the Ancient World 1
Personality from the Ancient World 2

Reconstructing the Ancient World

Schools select two of the following historical periods to study in this unit:

Thebes — East and West, from the 18th to the 20th Dynasty
The Bronze Age Aegean
Assyria from Tiglath Pileser III to the fall of the Empire
The Ancient Levant — First and Second Temple Period
Persia from Cyrus II to Darius III
Fifth Century Athens (BCE)
Macedonian Empire from Philip II to Alexander III
Rome during the Republic
Early Imperial Rome from Augustus to Nero
Pompeii and Herculaneum
Later Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms
The Celts and/or Roman Britain
The Medieval Crusades
Classical Japan until the end of the Heian Period

People, power and authority

Schools select one of the following historical periods to study in this unit:

Ancient Egypt — New Kingdom Imperialism
Ancient Greece — the Persian Wars
Ancient Greece — the Peloponnesian War
Ancient Carthage and/or Rome — the Punic Wars
Ancient Rome — Civil War and the breakdown of the Republic
Ancient Rome — the Augustan Age
Ancient Rome — Imperial Rome until the fall of the Western Roman Empire
Ancient Rome — the Byzantine Empire

Schools select one of the personality options that has been nominated by the QCAA for the external assessment. Schools will be notified of the options at least two years before the external assessment is implemented.

Essential Equipment

Assessment

Schools devise assessments in Units 1 and 2 to suit their local context.

In Units 3 and 4 students complete four summative assessments. The results from each of the assessments are added together to provide a subject score out of 100. Students will also receive an overall subject result (A–E).

Summative assessments

Unit 3	Unit 4
Summative internal assessment 1 (IA1): Examination - extended response	25%	Summative internal assessment 3 (IA3): Investigation	25%
Summative internal assessment 2 (IA2): Investigation	25%	Summative external assessment (EA): Examination - short responses	25%

Unit 3

Unit 4

Summative internal assessment 1 (IA1):

Examination - extended response

25%

Summative internal assessment 3 (IA3):

Investigation

25%

Summative internal assessment 2 (IA2):

Investigation

25%

Summative external assessment (EA):

Examination - short responses

25%

Intensives

Teacher

Rachael Adamson

Head of HASS Years 10-12, Senior Ancient History

QCAA Courses

"This was my favourite subject by far and favourite teacher too. I loved how obvious it was that Ms Adamson was passionate about what we're learning, and I think that's why the classes/coursework ended up being so enjoyable."

- Ella M

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