Described by 19th and 20th century historians as a mysterious Persian priesthood, the Magi can be easily misunderstood. However, more recent research reveals them to be a religious order whose religious and non-religious (e.g. medical) functions changed over the time of the Achaemenid period to become the Zoroastrian priests that we recognise in the later period. This source-based homework task is designed for students of the NSW Ancient History Syllabus Higher School Certificate course Historical Periods Option D: Persia from Cyrus II to the Death of Darius III It can also be used as part of Historical Societies Option D: Persian society at the time of Darius and Xerxes.

The city of Sparta in the 8th to 4th centuries BCE had a magnificent temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. It sat on the acropolis overlooking the city and was one of the focal points for public worship and a sanctuary for criminals and the less fortunate to seek refuge. This source-based homework task is designed to increase student understanding of the public life of Spartans and is part 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. Until the 20th century historians have focused on Sparta as being a wholly militaristic society, devoid of a cultural life. This is certainly untrue. This task reveals the Spartans to value religion and public art and architecture.

A surprise defeat to the professionally trained Spartan army, Leuctra heralded an end to the Spartan state as a dominant force in Greek politics. The city-state of Thebes dismantled the Spartan military so that it no longer posed a military threat. This source-based homework task is designed to support the NSW Ancient History Syllabus Higher School Certificate course Part II Ancient Societies Option I - Spartan Society to the Battle of Leuctra. It can be used without modification to support the Queensland Ancient History Syllabus Theme 5 Studies of Power - The Military Elite in Sparta.

The Ionic (not Doric) Temple of Apollo at Amyklai contained an enormous statue of Apollo with a raised spear in front of a large throne. The temple was ornately decorated by architects and tradesmen from other Greek states. Spartans would travel to the temple for the annual 3-day Festival of the Hyakinthia. They also travelled out from the city of Sparta to Amyklai for picnics. 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 The Temple of Apollo at Amyklai was known throughout Greece as one of the oldest temples (it dated back to Mycenaean times) and one of the most beautiful. It tells us much about Spartan religious practices and their social world.

We get the impression that because the Spartans did not have their own coins that their economy was a depressed backwater. Far from it! The Perioieki produced a variety of goods and traded these goods within the Spartan state and further afield with the other Greek states and foreign nations. This source-based homework task is designed to assist 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 perioikoi were the craftsmen, businessmen, traders, nurses and childcare workers of Spartan society. Without them the Spartan military state would not have existed and the military machine that was the Spartan army could not have been as successful as it was. This source-based homework task is designed to develop 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 role of Vietnamese women (both North and South) in supporting the war effort was crucial, yet is barely recognised. They were guerrilla fighters, nurses, agricultural workers, merchants as well as continuing to support their families in the absence of their partners. This source-based homework task is designed to increase student understanding of the NSW Modern History syllabus for the Australian Curriculum Higher School Certificate course Peace and Conflict Option C: Conflict in Indochina 1945-1975 Students will come to an understanding that the Vietnam War affected every aspect of everyone's life during the time period. Sometimes our misfortunes are simply due to the time and place in which we live.

Cyrus II expanded a small empire to become a multi-cultural empire through leadership of a highly successful army. He also gained support of conquered peoples through his respect for local customs and use of existing leadership. He initiated the satrapal system of government, established religious tolerance and economic reforms. This source-based homework task is designed for students of the NSW Ancient History Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum Higher School Certificate course Historical Periods Option D: Persia - Cyrus II to the Death of Darius III

This Powerpoint presentation is Presentation 3 of a series on The Holocaust and is designed for Stage 5 students studying Depth Study 6 School Developed Topic: The Holocaust. It is part of the History Australian National Curriculum. It provides an overview of the nature of genocide and Gregory Stanton's eight stages of genocide. This provides a context to the depth study on the Jewish Holocaust in Nazi Germany in the 1920s-1940s. The embedded videos won't operate. However, you can modify the slides and embed your own videos or locate the ones that I have used on YouTube. An important part of this presentation is coming to an understanding of the good and evil in us individually and collectively and how we can live with past injustices.

This Powerpoint presentation supports the teaching of the History Australian Curriculum NSW Syllabus Stage 5 Depth Study 6: School Developed Topic - The Holocaust. It provides students with an understanding of the concept of Anti-Semitism and traces the history of Anti-Semitism from Roman times to the 1930s and assists them to understand the mindset that resulted in the appalling events of the Holocaust. There are activities in the last two slides that are suitable for students in Gifted and Talented and regular mixed-ability classes. The presentation can also be used to support the teaching of the NSW Stage 6 Modern History Higher School Certificate course Part II National Studies Option C - Germany 1919-1939.

Minority ethnic and religious peoples were generally treated well by the Persian administrations, provided they submitted to the Persian rule. As a case in point, the Jewish people were permitted to return to their homeland (following exile imposed by the Assyrians) and even supported in their rebuilding of towns and cities. This source-based homework task is designed to support students of the NSW Ancient History Syllabus of the Australian Curriculum Higher School certificate course Historical Periods: Option D: Persia - Cyrus II to the death of Darius III

Deconstruction of a visual image- the mural ‘The Conquest or Arrival of Hernan Cortes in Veracruz’ to reveal a twentieth-century view of the Spanish conquest of Mexico. Includes student activities.

Worksheet to accompany the video Crash Course World History - The Spanish Empire. Designed for students of the NSW History K-10 Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum. Stage 4 Depth Study 6: Expanding Contacts 6c: Spanish Conquest of the Americas

Empathy task for the topic Spanish Conquest of the Americas. Students imagine they are an Aztec commander who has been ordered by Montezuma to engage the Spanish conquistadors in a street battle in Tenochtitlan. Students are provided with the structure and language features of narrative writing and are encouraged to use all their senses in writing a description of what they see, smell, hear, taste, and touch as well as what they sense about their situation. A marking guide (rubric) is provided.

4 Cloze activities to support the teaching of Core Study: Cities of Vesuvius. Pompeii and Herculaneum: Excavating the lost cities The earthquake of 62 CE Pompeii’s temples The work of Dr. Estelle Lazer

Worksheet for the documentary video, Herculaneum. The other Pompeii. This video examines how the archaeological and forensic evidence at Herculaneum informs us about life in the sea-side town of Herculaneum in the first century CE. There is a focus is on how scientific evidence has been gained and the conclusions this draws as well as conservation/preservation o artefacts. Part of a unit of work for Core Study. Cities of Vesuvius: Pompeii and Herculaneum. Higher School Certificate course. NSW Ancient History Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum.

3 Primary sources on the topic, Alexander the Great: Arrian speculates on Alexander’s territorial ambitions, c.76-138 CE Plutarch describes Alexander’s engagement at the Battle of the Granicus, May 336 BCE Quintus Curtius Rufus describes the Macedonians looting Persepolis, 330 BCE Students examine the documentary evidence for the nature, reliability and purpose of the passages. This set of activities is designed for Stage 6 Higher School Certificate students of the NSW Ancient History Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum. Personalities in their Times. Option G. Greece - Alexander the Great.

Worksheet for the documentary, Ultimate Battles. Gaugamela. This video is available on YouTube and covers reasons for Alexander’ success at the Battle of Gaugamela, 331 BCE. This resource is part of a unit of work for Stage 6 Higher School Certificate students of the NSW Ancient History Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum. Personalities in their Times. Option G. Greece - Alexander the Great.

Worksheet to accompany the info-documentary, Epic Moments. The 9 Lives of Alexander the Great. The video is a good overview of Alexander’s military campaigns in the Persian Empire and the life of Alexander in general. This resource is designed for Stage 6 Higher School Certificate students of the NSW Ancient History Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum. Personalities in their Times. Option G. Greece - Alexander the Great.

Analysis of Antonio Penades’ article in National Geographic, Bred for Battle - Understanding Ancient Sparta’s Military Machine. This article gives a good description of how Spartan hoplites prepared themselves for battle, worked as a phalanx during the battle and recovered from the immediate aftermath of the battle. This resource is designed for Stage 6 Higher School Certificate students of the NSW Ancient History Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum. Historical societies: Option G: Greece - Spartan society to the Battle of Leuctra, 371 BCE.