TASMANIAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY
PLACE LABEL HERE
Tasmanian Certificate of Education
ANCIENT CIVILISATIONS
Senior Secondary
Subject Code: ANC315110
External Assessment
2014
Time: Two Hours
On the basis of your performance in this examination, the examiners will provide
results on each of the following criteria taken from the course statement:
Criterion 6
Analyse and evaluate issues and information.
Criterion 7
Demonstrate an understanding of relevant concepts and terminology.
Criterion 8
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of significant aspects of
an ancient civilisation.
Criterion 9
Demonstrate an ability to analyse critically a variety of primary and
secondary sources.
Pages:
Questions:
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Copyright for part(s) of this examination may be held by individuals and/or organisations other than
the Tasmanian Qualifications Authority.
Ancient Civilisations
CANDIDATE INSTRUCTIONS
You MUST make sure that your responses to the questions in this examination paper will show your
achievement in the criteria being assessed.
This paper is divided into FOUR sections, representing the four theme areas in the course.
You must answer TWO questions (in essay form), each of which must be from a different section.
In answering the questions, you may refer to ONE or TWO of the civilisations under study unless
stated otherwise in brackets. You must support your response by referring to a range of specific
examples from primary and secondary sources.
When numbering your responses, please show the civilisation(s) discussed in your answer as ‘E’
(Egypt), ‘G’ (Greece), and/or ‘R’ (Rome).
So for example, if you selected Question 8 (in Section B) and wrote about ancient Greece, 8G should
be recorded as the question number on the answer book. If you choose to write on TWO civilisations
within a single answer, the letter code for both civilisations should be noted. So, for example, if you
selected Question 5 (in Section A) and wrote about both Egypt and Rome, 5ER should be recorded as
the question number on the answer book.
Answer each question in a separate answer book.
All written responses must be in English.
Planning Grid:
Section and Question Number
Civilisation(s) discussed
Essay Number 1
Essay Number 2
Final Check:
Have you answered TWO questions?
Is each question from a different section?
Have you noted the civilisation(s) discussed on the cover of the answer booklet?
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Ancient Civilisations
SECTION A
Use a separate answer booklet for this section.
This section assesses Criteria 6, 7, 8 and 9.
ARTS
Question 1
Art and Architecture
Describe the most common features of art and/or architecture in ancient society. How has our
knowledge of ancient society been informed by art and/or architecture? To what extent did religion
and politics in ancient society influence its art and/or architecture?
Question 2
(a)
Literature and Writing
Explain the role of literature in ancient society. In what sections of ancient society was literature
most appreciated? To what extent did literature influence ancient society?
(Candidates referring to literature from Greece or Rome should discuss ONE or TWO significant
writers. Candidates referring to literature from Egypt should discuss a wide range of texts.)
or
(for candidates choosing Egypt ONLY)
(b)
What scripts and technologies were used for writing in ancient Egypt? Explain the main uses of
writing and evaluate the importance of writing to the organisation of ancient Egyptian society.
Question 3
Philosophy (for candidates choosing Greece and/or Rome ONLY)
Outline the main ideas of one or two philosophers. What aspects of ancient society allowed philosophy
to flourish? To what extent did these ideas influence ancient society?
Question 4
Drama and Music
What forms of drama and/or music existed in ancient society? Explain the functions of drama and/or
music in ancient society. Assess the influence of drama and/or music on ancient society.
Section A continues.
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Ancient Civilisations
Section A (continued)
Question 5
Myths and Legends
By referring to specific examples, explain the differences between a myth and a legend. Using primary
sources, show how myths and legends explained the world to members of ancient society. To what
extent do myths and legends reinforce the values and structures of ancient society?
Question 6
Historiography (for candidates choosing Greece and/or Rome ONLY)
Outline the works of ONE or TWO significant historians in ancient society. Explain their motivations
in recording history. To what extent can these works be relied upon to provide an accurate
understanding of ancient society and specific events in ancient history?
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Ancient Civilisations
SECTION B
Use a separate answer booklet for this section.
This section assesses Criteria 6, 7, 8 and 9.
SOCIAL ASPECTS
Question 7
Daily Life
Describe the social structure in ancient society. What significant factors determined a person’s place in
that society? What means, if any, existed for members of ancient society to advance their status or
social position and how likely was such an advancement to occur?
Question 8
Womens Studies
What social, political and religious roles did women play in ancient society? Describe the nature of
surviving primary sources concerning the roles of women in ancient society, paying particular
attention to scope and bias. To what extent were women able to exercise influence in ancient society?
Question 9
Sex, Sexuality and Love
Identify a range of primary sources concerning sex, sexuality and love in ancient society. What do
these sources reveal about the nature of sex, sexuality and love in ancient society? Are the sources
available sufficient to gain an accurate understanding of the sexual attitudes and values of people in
ancient society?
Question 10 The Family
Describe the structure of family units in ancient society and explain the roles and responsibilities of its
members. Using primary sources, evaluate the importance of the family to ancient society.
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Ancient Civilisations
SECTION C
Use a separate answer booklet for this section.
This section assesses Criteria 6, 7, 8 and 9.
POLITICS and GOVERNMENT
Question 11 Politics, Government and Citizenship
Explain the system of government in ancient society. How did leaders come to power and how did
they retain power and exercise their authority? Evaluate the effectiveness of leaders and governments
in times of crisis.
Question 12 War and Foreign Relations
Explain how ancient society organised and sustained its armed forces. Identify and explain the
relationships between government and the military. To what extent did ancient society innovate in
military matters?
Question 13 Law, Crime and Punishment
In ancient society, what were the major features of the legal system? Explain the nature and scope of
ancient sources of evidence that inform us of law, crime and punishment. Analyse the religious and
social values underpinning the legal system.
Question 14 Trade and Economy
Describe the nature and extent of trade in ancient society, referring to the range of goods traded.
Explain the importance of trade to the economic prosperity of ancient society. Evaluate the
significance of trade in the development of ancient society.
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Ancient Civilisations
SECTION D
Use a separate answer booklet for this section.
This section assesses Criteria 6, 7, 8 and 9.
RELIGION and SCIENCE
Question 15 Religion
‘… religion was a force that bound man to the gods … [and] only when the proper procedures on both
state and household level were observed would the gods answer their prayers.’
[Pamela Bradley]
Referring to ancient sources, identify the differences between state religion and private religion. Does
the above quotation adequately convey the relationship in ancient society between humans and the
gods? To what degree did leaders use religious beliefs to justify their authority?
Question 16 Death and the Afterlife
Describe the rituals and practices involved in preparation for burial and the afterlife in ancient society.
How were beliefs about death and the afterlife reflected in these rituals and practices? Analyse the
nature and scope of surviving primary sources that inform our understanding of beliefs about death
and the afterlife in ancient society.
Question 17 Science and Technology
Describe some of the major scientific and technological advances in ancient society. What ancient
sources inform our knowledge of such advances? Analyse how these advances benefited ancient
society.
Question 18 Medicine and Health
Describe the diseases and afflictions that people in ancient society were treated for and the implements
and remedies that were used to treat them. What beliefs guided the treatments used? Analyse the
nature and scope of surviving primary sources that inform our understanding of medicine and health in
ancient society.
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Ancient Civilisations
This question paper and any materials associated with this examination (including answer booklets, cover sheets,
rough note paper, or information sheets) remain the property of the Tasmanian Qualifications Authority.
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