The krypteia are believed to be the secret police of the Spartan state. They kept the helots (always the majority of the population) in check through random acts of terror including murder. This source-based homework task is designed to enhance student understanding of the NSW Ancient History syllabus Higher School Certificate course Part II: Ancient Societies Option I: Spartan Society to the Battle of Leuctra Many societies have secret police in various forms, including security intelligence services. Some are overt and some covert. The more extreme (e.g. Spartan society in the 6th and 5th centuries BCE and Stalinist Russia etc.) used terror as a means of controlling the population. When does their work cross the line of acceptable behaviour? Is there a line? When should good people speak out? What are the consequences of this?

This is a source-based homework task to support student understanding of the NSW Stage 6 Ancient History Syllabus Higher School Certificate course Part II Ancient Societies Option I - Spartan Society to the Battle of Leuctra. Students examine archaeological and written evidence relating to the fifth century BCE Spartan practice of Spartiates eating at a syssitia (mess hall).

All Greek city states had agoges. But the Spartans were renowned for their military prowess rather than their pursuit of the intellect. Does this mean that their agoges focused were more bootcamps than schools? This source-based homework task assists student understanding of the NSW Ancient History syllabus Higher School Certificate course Part II: Ancient Societies Option I: Spartan Society to the Battle of Leuctra The Spartans were really no different to other Greeks of the 6th and 5th centuries BCE - they valued a rounded education but they also understood the political necessity of a strong military.

This is a source-based homework task to support student understanding of the NSW Stage 6 Ancient History Syllabus Higher School Certificate course Part II Ancient Societies Option I - Spartan Society to the Battle of Leuctra. Students analyse a variety of visual, archaeological and written primary and secondary source materials to determine how much freedom Spartan girls were permitted in fifth century BCE Spartan society. The task is suitable for regular mixed-ability classes.

This is a source-based homework task to support student understanding of the NSW Stage 6 Ancient History Syllabus Higher School Certificate course Part III - Personalities and their Times Option H - Alexander the Great Students examine archaeological and written evidence relating to Aristotle's school in Mieza where Alexander the Great was a student. It also looks at what was taught and why an education was important in laying a foundation for Alexander's rule of the Greek and Asian worlds.

This is a source-based homework task to support student understanding of the NSW Ancient History syllabus for the Australian Curriculum. Higher School Certificate course Ancient Societies Option G: Spartan society to the Battle of Leuctra 371 BC

The Sandakan Death Marches were war crimes perpetrated against surrendered Australian and British soldiers on the island of Borneo in World War II. This source-based homework task is designed to support the NSW History syllabus of the Australian National Curriculum Stage 5 Depth Study 3: Australians at War. Students analyse a variety of visual and written resources to determine what happened on the Sandakan Death Marches and to decide whether the treatment of the POWs constituted a legitimate act of war or a war crime.

This is a source-based homework task to support student understanding of the NSW Stage 6 Ancient History syllabus Higher School Certificate course Part III - Personalities & Their Times Option H - Alexander the Great Students analyse a variety of primary and secondary written sources to come to an understanding as to why Cleitus, a military leader who had saved Alexander's life at the Battle of the Granicus, was then murdered by him a few years later.

This is a source-based homework task to support student understanding of the NSW History Syllabus Australian Curriculum Stage 5 The Modern World & Australia Depth Study 5: The Globalising World - Popular Culture. Students examine a variety of written and visual, primary and secondary sources to decide whether the 2000 Sydney Olympics actually benefitted Australia.

This is a source-based homework task to support student understanding of the NSW Stage 6 Ancient History Higher School Certificate course Part II - Ancient Societies Option I - Spartan Society to the Battle of Leuctra Students analyse a variety of primary and secondary, visual and written sources to identify factors that resulted in success for the Spartan army at Mantinea in 418 BCE. It was an example of how an army of professional soldiers could defeat "weekend warriors" from the more northern Greek city states. Interestingly, the Spartans used ex-helots as soldiers. Let it never be claimed that the Spartans were ever resistant to change!

Alexander victory at Issus was more about good fortune, good luck and being a popular military leader who could talk his men around. This homework task is to support student understanding of the NSW Ancient History syllabus Higher School Certificate course Part III - Personalities in their Times Option H - Alexander the Great Students analyse a variety of primary and secondary, visual and written sources to determine why Alexander the Great was successful at the Battle of Issus in 333 BCE. Bravado and popularity certainly count for a lot!

Alexander the Great founded the city of Alexandria - no brainer. But his reasons for doing so are a little more complicated. This source-based homework task is designed to support student learning of the NSW Ancient History syllabus Higher School Certificate course Part III - Personalities & Their Times Option H - Alexander the Great Students analyse a range of primary and secondary, visual and written sources to find the reasons why Alexander founded the city of Alexandria and why he chose it's location.

Not only were the helots slaves, they were subjected to incredible social measures to ensure they stayed that way. This source-based homework task is designed to support student understanding of the NSW Ancient History Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum. Higher School Certificate course Part II: Ancient Societies Option G: Spartan Society to the Battle of Leuctra Students analyse a range of primary and secondary, visual and written sources to make a judgement as to whether the helots were slaves and examine the role they played in supporting the Spartan military state. Great opportunities to discuss the nature and purpose of slavery and discrimination.

Did I hear right? Alexander had a male partner? This source-based homework task is designed to support student understanding of the NSW Ancient History syllabus Higher School certificate course Part III - Personalities in their Times Option H - Alexander the Great Students analyse a range of primary and secondary, visual, archaeological and written sources to decide whether Hephaestion was Alexander the Great's male partner and what his contribution was to Alexander's murderous rampage across Asia. Hephaestion was a general and commander within the Companion cavalry. He was highly educated and a professionally trained military commander. A great opportunity to teach values around gender and sexuality.

Commander of the Praetorian Guard, Sejanus embodied Orwell's maxim that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Or does he? Why are modern historian's reviewing the traditional view of Sejanus as an archetypal villain and seeing him as another of Tiberius' victims. This source-based homework task is designed to extend student understanding of the NSW Ancient History syllabus Higher School Certificate course Part IV - Historical Periods Option O - Rome in the Time of the Julio-Claudians CE 14-69 One wonders if Sejanus would feel right at home in 21st century Australian politics! An interesting question for the classroom.

Introduced in 1924 following the successful 1915 adoption by the State of Queensland, compulsory voting may not have guaranteed democracy, but it did guarantee that everyone would have the opportunity to cast a vote. Preferential voting made the process of selecting a candidate easier. This source-based homework task assists lucky Year 9/10 students to understand the rationale behind the adoption of compulsory and preferential voting. It is designed for the NSW History syllabus for the Australian Curriculum Stage 5 Depth Study 4: Rights & Freedoms and/or Depth Study 6: Decade Study - The Roaring Twenties (and who said civics was boring?)

This is a source-based homework task to support student understanding for the History Australian National Curriculum Stage 5 Depth Study 6: School-Developed Topic - The Roaring Twenties. Students analyse a variety of written and visual primary and secondary sources to gain an understanding of the positive and negative experiences of returned Australian servicemen, 1919-1924.

Sparta's dominance as a Greek city-state began with its invasion and takeover of the neighbouring state of Messenia that occurred in two stages, the First and Second Messenian Wars in the eighth century BCE. Historian, Paul Cartledge likens Spartan domination of Messenia to Britain's domination of Ireland - complete subjugation. This source-based homework task is designed to increase student understanding of the NSW Ancient History syllabus Higher School Certificate course Part II: Ancient Societies Option I: Spartan Society to the Battle of Leuctra 371 BCE

Modern historians have debated the claim that Claudius' freedmen exerted undue influence over the emperor. Their assertions are that Claudius was always in control of their administrative, financial and legal responsibilities. This source-based homework task is designed to assist student understanding of the NSW Ancient History syllabus Higher School certificate course Part IV: Historical Periods Option O: The Julio-Claudians and the Roman Empire AD 14-69 An interesting topic to discuss the role of the public service and their responsibilities to the government of the time.

Taras (Tarentum) is touted as the Spartan states only attempt at a colony. Evidence from Crete shows that this may not be true. However, Taras was certainly the most successful Spartan colony, with a mutually beneficial relationship between colony and mother country. This source-based homework task is designed for students studying the NSW Ancient History syllabus: Higher School Certificate course Part II: Ancient Societies Option I: Spartan Society to the Battle of Leuctra 371BCE