Ancient History

Do you know:

• whose face launched a thousand ships?
• where the lost city of Atlantis is to be found?
• that dead men do, indeed, tell tales?

Ancient History is concerned with the study of the past in order to understand the future. It aims to develop critical thinking, research and communication skills. Ancient History at cerdon is offered at three levels - 2 Unit Personalities and Their Times; 2/3 Unit common and 3 Unit. This allows students the flexibility to choose the course which best meets their needs.

The content of the courses is varied and the topics can be chosen from a number of civilisations - Egypt; the Near East; Greece and Rome. Again this allows students the opportunity to pursue their particular interests.

The Preliminary Course topics include:

• How does an archaeologist work?
• Who owns the past?
• How and why should we preserve the past?
• The Trojan Horse - fact or fiction?

• Ice Man
• The Bodies in the Bog
• The Mummies of Egypt
• What do they reveal about the people of the past?

Greek Drama The 20th Century has the Oscars, the Greeks had the Dionysia.What were the important issues to the Greeks of the 5th Century BC? Are they so different to those explored in plays and films of today?

• Is there such a thing as the mummy's curse?
• What secrets did the tomb reveal about Ancient Egypt?
• Why is the world still fascinated by a civilisation which existed thousands of years ago?

Pompeii

• Two cities of one of the world's greatest empires - Rome - frozen in time by the ash and larva of Mount Vesuvius.
• How did the Romans live? What did they do in their spare time?
• Why were gladiator shows so popular?

The HSC corses involve the study of Persia, Egypt, Greece and Rome. The topics are chosen according to student interest and teacher expertise.

The Personalities and their Times course does not require students to write extended essay responses and the course concentrates on two personalities and two societies from the Ancient world.

The 2/3 Unit Common course is examined by essay and is concerned with historical periods as well as personalities and societies.

At 3 unit level students undertake a more detailed and in-depth study of a particular aspect of Ancient History.

Ancient History appeals to a wide range of students. The knowledge and skills developed such as oral and written communication, research and investigation, analysis of sources, problem solving and the ability to consider an issue from a number of perspectives are valuable and necessary life skills.