Royal Persian women included the king's mother, wives, family members, concubines, courtesans and entertainers such as musicians and dancing girls. They wielded much influence on the king and on policy-making. They were also involved in intrigues including horrific acts of violence. They could own and manage land, attended battles as camp-followers and performed acts of public significance. 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 It can also be used as part of Historical Societies Option D: Persia in the time of Darius I and Xerxes

Darius I administered his huge, multicultural empire through good governance, the selection of loyal satraps, the use of taxation to pay for bureaucracy and the military, the standardisation of laws and weights and the use of the army to maintain control and order. 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 from Cyrus II to Darius III It can also be used as part of Historical Societies Option D: Persia in the time of Darius I and Xerxes

Darius I's motives in invading the lands of the European Scythians (modern Romania and Ukraine) are varied: expanding the Persian Empire, seeking vengeance on the Scythians for raiding the northern parts of the empire, gaining kudos as a strong leader. Whether the Expedition was successful is another question. 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 It can also be used as part of: Historical Societies Option D: Persia in the time of Darius I and Xerxes

Artaxerxes I overcame revolts within his empire, notably in Egypt but also in Bactria, established and maintained good relations with the Greek states and with the Greeks in Asia Minor and contributed significantly to the building works at Persepolis. 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 from Cyrus II to the death of Darius III

Darius II is best known as the Persian king defeated by Alexander the Great. But there is far more to him and his rule. He achieved military success against the Cadusians and the Egyptians, he was proactive in using diplomacy to undermine the support of the Macedonians amongst the Greek states and then attempted diplomacy to end the Macedonian invasion (both unsuccessful) and he continued the building works at Persepolis. This source-based homework task supports the teaching of the NSW Ancient History Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum: Higher School Certificate course Historical Periods Option D: Persia from Cyrus II to the death of Darius III

Magnificent works of art created by expert tradesmen for the wealthy residents of Pompeii, the mosaics of Pompeii give us clues about the creation of the works and the lives of both the tradesmen and mosaic owners. This source-based homework task is designed for students of the NSW Ancient History Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum Higher School Certificate course Core: Cities of Vesuvius - Pompeii and Herculaneum

The sad truth is that human rights in the ancient world depended on socio-economic status, ethnicity, gender and sheer good luck. Take the example of eunuchs in Achaemenid Persian society. Young men were forcibly castrated as part of the slave trade and spent their lives serving their owners. A rare few were owned by the royal family and rose to positions of prominence at the royal court. These were involved in court intrigues throughout the Achaemenid period. During the later Achaemenid times some plotted the rise and fall of their masters, including the kings. This source-based homework task is designed for NSW Higher School Certificate Ancient History students: Higher School Certificate course Historical Periods Option D: Persia - Cyrus II to the death of Darius III Historical Societies Option D: Persian society in the time of Darius and Xerxes Historical Personalities Option D: The Near East - Xerxes

Xerxes was responsible for completing the monumental and building works of his father, Darius I at Persepolis. Taking inspiration from the various ethnic groups within the empire, he set about his own monumental and building works in the style of the Egyptians, Assyrians, Greeks and Babylonians. The Gate of All Nations, the Apadana (Audience Hall), western fortifications, 'Harem' and elaborately decorated staircases were all Xerxes' additions. 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 It can also be used as part of: Historical Societies Option D: Persian Society at the time of Darius and Xerxes It can also be used as part of: Historical Personalities: The Near East: Xerxes

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 Saka (Scythians) were a large confederacy of nomadic people who inhabited Eurasia from Eastern Europe to Afghanistan. They were the forebears of many peoples in this part of Eurasia. One group of Saka wore a distinctive pointed hat. They were part of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, ruled as a satrap and paid tribute to the king. 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 It can also be used as part of Historical Societies Option D: Persian society at the time of Darius and Xerxes

Tyrtaeus was a poet in the 7th century BCE who wrote verse extolling war, militarism and the Spartan government. His poems were recited in syssition and at other public events. He wrote soon after the Messenian Wars when Sparta crushed and enslaved the Messenian people. This homework task is designed to increase student understanding of the NSW Ancient History syllabus for the Australian Curriculum Higher School Certificate course Ancient Societies Option F: Spartan Society to the Battle of Leuctra 371 BC

This Powerpoint presentation and activities outlines the role of migrants in building the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme from 1949 to 1972. It can be used to support the teaching of the NSW History Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum Stage 5 - Year 10 Depth Study 5b - The Environment Movement and Depth Study 5c - Migration Experiences

This is a worksheet and answers to go with the BBC Documentary The Last Shah. . The video covers the period from the military coup against the Qajar Dynasty by Reza Pahlavi in 1926 through to the death of Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, the Last Shah, in 1980. The video is available on YouTube.

This is an assessment task for the topic Conflict in Indochina. It is designed for students of the NSW Modern History Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum Higher School Certificate course Peace and Conflict Option C: Conflict in Indochina 1945-1975. It includes 10 multiple choice questions and a source-based activity on guerrilla warfare.

This activity includes a mix and match of key terms and concepts in the topic Conflict in Indochina and use of the terms and concepts in a simple activity It is designed for students of the NSW Modern History Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum Higher School Certificate course Peace and Conflict Option C: Conflict in Indochina 1945-1975.

This is a cloze activity that details the different military approaches taken by the Viet Minh and their allies the Viet Cong on one side versus the military strategies and tactics taken by the United States and allies on the other side during the Vietnam War. It is designed for students of the NSW Modern History Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum Higher School Certificate course Peace and Conflict Option C: Conflict in Indochina 1945-1975.

French defeat at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954 was a surprise to everyone except the Viet Minh who had carefully planned their response to the French selection of a supposedly impregnable site for a showdown with the Viet Minh. This source-based homework task is designed for students of the NSW Modern History Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum Higher School Certificate course Peace and Conflict Option C: Conflict in Indochina 1945-1975.

The 1954 Geneva Peace Agreement gave closure to the First Vietnam War and had significant impact on France, the Viet Minh, the newly created state of South Vietnam and the USA. It had significant demographic, economic and political impact on the people of Vietnam and marked the point where France bowed out of Indochina and the USA bought in. This source-based homework task is designed for students of the NSW Modern History Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum Higher School Certificate course Peace and Conflict Option C: Conflict in Indochina 1945-1975.

A Spartan poet? It almost seems unbelievable that a society renowned for its excessive militarism should have a poet, especially one who wrote of love and the colour of women's hair, the beauty of wildflowers and dancing. Yet Alkman's poems inspired the Spartans so much that they were spoken by bards in the syssition and at religious festivals where young girls would dance to his words. This source-based homework task is designed for students of the NSW Ancient History Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum Higher School Certificate course Historical Societies Spartan Society to the Battle of Leuctra

This worksheet leads students to investigate the 1979 Revolution and then write a brief information report. It is designed for the NSW Modern History Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum Higher School Certificate course National Studies Option G: Iran 1953-1989