VCE Units 1 & 2 - Ancient History
VCE Units 1 & 2 - Ancient History
Overview
History introduces students to structured inquiry into the human actions, forces and conditions that have shaped the past and present. VCE History enables students to explore a variety of eras and periods, events, people and ideas. Ancient History investigates individuals and societies within Mesopotamia and Egypt, across millennia.
Unit 1 – Ancient Mesopotamia
Students investigate the emergence of early societies in Ancient Mesopotamia. The lands between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates have been described as the ‘cradle of civilisation’. The study of Ancient Mesopotamia provides insights into the growth of cities and civilisations, as well as the development of city-states and empires. Students examine the invention of writing, as well as develop an understanding of the importance of primary sources in supporting an inquiry about the origins of civilization.
Areas of Study
- Discovering civilisation – Focuses on how the invention of agriculture and the subsequent emergence of the first cities in Mesopotamia around 3500 BCE.
- Ancient Empires – Focuses on the First Babylonian Dynasty, the Assyrian Empire and the fall of Nineveh at the end of the Neo-Assyrian Period (612 BCE).
Unit 2 – Ancient Egypt
Students investigate the features of the Old Kingdom Egypt and the representation of power in Middle Kingdom Egypt and the Second Intermediate Period. They analyse the conditions that gave rise to Egyptian civilization, including the role of the Nile river in supporting the development of urban settlements. Students develop an understanding of the importance of primary sources in supporting an inquiry about Old and Middle Kingdom Egypt.
Areas of Study
- Egypt: The double crown – Focuses on kingship in Old Kingdom from the Early Dynastic Period (2920 BCE), concluding at the end of the First Intermediate Period (2040 BCE).
- Middle Kingdom Egypt: Power and propaganda – focuses on the use and presentation of power in Middle Kingdom Egypt and the Second Intermediate Period (2040 to 1550 BCE).
Forms of Assessment
- Historical Inquiry
- Source Analysis
- Historical Interpretation
- Essay
Prerequisites and Corequisites
There are no prerequisites for entry to Units 1 and 2.