Hi ATAR Notes,
I have an ancient history assessment next week focusing on Augustus. I've looked around for resources on this topic, but mostly, Pompeii and Sparta are the subjects with the most focus. The question for the essay is "Evaluate the success of Augustus' reform program." I have two body paragraphs so far on social and political but I am worried if I should try to include religious and military as well. I can show you what I have so far if it's easier. Any advice would be so helpful!
Hi there,
I am currently studying The Fall of the Roman Republic. For my assessment this term, I have an essay asking me to "Explain the rise and the fall of the First Triumvirate"
I handed my teacher a practise paragraph, but he said it read to much like a description. I'll insert an excerpt what said I my paragraph:
My teacher said it read like a description, or a timeline of the events, and I needed to make it more analytical.
So I was wondering, how do i go about an "explain" question without using too much description !?
Thanks heaps,
Jenna.
Hi Susie, can you check my paragraph structure and whether I am using my quotes effectively etc.
Thanks!
Hope this helps! Overall this was a good attempt, you clearly have a keen understanding of your topic in regards to detail which will definitely help a lot during your exams, just a few structural issues to iron out (the easy stuff ;)). Good luck! If you need any more help please pop back here at any time and let me know :)
Susie
If I could "like" this 10 times I would, your feedback is so good I want to cry!!! THANK YOU!Aw thank you! This makes me really happy, so glad that you found it helpful! ;D
how many historians would you suggest putting in a paragraph? I sometimes feel like I'm writing an english essay and have to put in around 4...
Aw thank you! This makes me really happy, so glad that you found it helpful! ;D
In terms of the amount of historians, I don't really think that there is a definitive answer here.
Though historians are comparatively more important in Ancient than in Modern History, its not really the fact that they are historians that is important, more that they are evidence. You DO want to be consistently using evidence to back up your points, and should really be used to back up almost any point you make. However evidence doesn't just encompass historians, but also archeological sources, statistics, etc. etc, and IMO archeological sources in particular are even better to use than historians! For example when I studied the Julio-Claudians, instead of using a quote from Scullard or Tacitus to suggest that Claudius' reign was dominated by the influence of Agrippina the Younger, I would specifically reference archeological evidence such as numismatic and statue depictions, that place her on an equal level to the Princeps (which was pretty crazy!).
You want to be using evidence to back up any point that you make, whether that is 2 key points per paragraph or 100 (though that'd be a pretty long paragraph)! And evidence most definitely can include historians! But if you feel like you're going a bit overboard, try and break up their use with other types of sources as well :)
Hi Susie, I have another question regarding the 'explain' question I had. Is there another way to include a judgement in the topic sentence without always saying it was "due to"?
Do you mean another way to phrase the statement "The formation of the first Triumvirate was primarily due to the Senates conflict with the three leaders, Ceasar, Pompey and Crassus"?
"due to" --> "a result of", "contributed by", etc. etc.
If you're asking this question though in regards to varying your sentence formation throughout your response, you don't need to worry :) I know in English they can get really pissy over language choices, but when it comes to HSC history they really don't mind, and in my opinion its actually better to use consistent wording throughout, as it gives the marker less opportunity to see a split judgement (which you want to avoid at all costs!).
Hi Susie, could you mark my essay please? :-* Also, I know you didn't study my topic, but for the 'roles' part in para 3, would I have to go into specific details or is what I'm doing still ok?
Hi Grace!
I'm going to have a look over your essay now :) I just now created an essay marking thread, so I will post your feedback there once it is done! Here is the link! (I'll send you a PM as well once I've gone through everything!)
Susie
Ok thank you!!
Hi :) I have to write an essay on "How significant was the consulship of Pompey and Crassus in 70BCE on the developments of the late Republic?" and im really struggeling with an introduction, could you possibly give me any pointers? I aways struglle with history introductions because im never sure what to put in them becasue theyre not like english ones. Any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks!
Hey!
I've got a question regarding exam responses. I've been doing a few past papers, specifically the Spartan society section, and I'm unsure whether I should include evidence for every point I make. For example some questions are quite short and only require around a paragraph (such as; "Outline the role of the gerousia in this period"). Would i really have to include a quote from a historian or provide archaeological evidence for such a short question? I understand the last question in the society questions will require your own sources, also would you do the same for the core topic as well?
Thanks! :)
Hey! Well it really depends on how many marks the question is worth. 1-2 marks? Most likely the question is just asking you to identify something (eg. identify two responsibilities of the kings) - something like this does not require evidence. 3-4 marks? I'd want to include maybe one or two sources - literary or archaeological. Anything above 4 marks is where I would be really trying to back up all of my points with evidence. This evidence doesn't need to be discussed at length, you could just name drop a particular source or site, but if you want to get the most amount of marks possible then it should be included.Thanks for the tips! :)
For Pompeii and Herculaneum? 100%. As it is a source based study they will almost always ask you to incorporate your own sources as well. The big thing here is to make sure that you have a source for both Pompeii AND HERCULANEUM (everyone forgets herculaneum :'( ). You will lose marks if you don't reference both towns (unless the question explicitly asks for a discussion on only one). This may seem pretty daunting, but remember that a lot of the sources for Pompeii and Herculaneum can be used for multiple sections of the syllabus, and thus can be used for multiple questions. For example the Temple of Isis? Can be used as a source for a question on evidence provided for;
- The eruption
- Social structure
- Local political life
- Everyday Life
- Temples
- Religion
- Influence of Greek and Egyptian Cultures
Hope this helps!
Susie
Thanks for the tips! :)
Poor Herculaneum :( , I find that even textbooks neglect it haha
Hello again! ;D
I've got a question regarding 'types of economic activity which took place in Pompeii and Herculaneum (2014 HSC past paper)
In my answer I spoke about tourism. For evidence I brought up the fact that the Amphitheatre of Pompeii can hold over 20,000 spectators (more than the citizen body) and for Herculaneum I spoke about the villa of the Papyri and how it was a mouseion used to show off a collection of art to the public.
Would tourism be a good example of economic activity? The markers didn't speak about it in the marking criteria nor is it in the syllabus however it kinda makes sense right?
Hey!Okay, better play it safe then. Thanks for the advice :)
Technically yes, tourism does make sense, and the evidence you used is good - but I think there are better examples, and you would be better off sticking more closely to the syllabus, so look at trade, commerce, industry and occupation. Your answer is just too specific if you only focus on tourism. Though it is believed that tourism was a feature of the economy at that time, its a very small feature in comparison to the other four I mentioned (it would fall under an example for industry).
Another very minor point, but you don't want to initially confuse the marker as tourism (modern day tourism specifically) is on another section of the syllabus. Unlikely, as Pompeii and Herculaneum is the core, so anyone marking that section should be very comfortable with the content, but you can never be too careful - make the markers job as easy as possible.
Susie
Hello... I'm back (Ancient study got me asking alot of questions ;D ;D)
Just a quick question, this seems a bit picky but I was doing a past paper (Spartan society section) and it involved a question where you had to discuss the role of the Perioikoi. I used a quote from Herodotus where he was explaining how at the 'battle of the Platae' 34,500 Perioikoi were involved as Auxiliary troops. This was a great example to use for the Perioikoi's role in the military however i only just realised that the battle took place in 479BC and the syllabus says; "Spartan society to the battle of Leuctra 371BC".
Maybe I'm thinking too hard about this :D but will the markers care if i use an example that is more than 100 years after the time period of the syllabus??
Haha no worries! Loving all the questions, keep them coming!
479 BC is actually 100 years before the Battle of Leuctra, so that is an absolutely fantastic example to include within your response! Really easy mistake to make, just remember that when it comes to BC we count years backwards (a little bit like it was a negative number?). So 1BC is going to be a lot later than 400BC, etc, etc.
You are right to be concerned about including examples that are outside of the scope of the designated timeframe though! A little bit of detail might go unnoticed, but in general it is definitely something you want to avoid, because it means you aren't answering the question correctly.
..... oh god....
How embarrassing.... Obviously................. hahahah sorry my brain is literally dead being staying up till 2 am everyday this week.
Thanks for the advice :)
No need to feel embarrassed! A super easy mistake to make, even reading your question I had to do a double take haha. And oh god 2am nights (or mornings?). Definitely takes me back to last year :/ Try your best to avoid them though, especially when the term starts back up (I say at 1:30 am - but i'm in uni now so that's okay - right?)Yeah defiantly, I sleep in too late as well :D .... I kinda find working at night easier i dunno, but yeah since exams are generally early i should probably start sleeping earlier :)
Susie
Hey! ;D
Just a quick question, should the last question (15 marker) in the ancient society section be answered in proper essay form? I find that I tend to write a bit of a hybrid essay (as in I don't really have a clear introduction that introduces my main point, I kinda make a general statement and then bring up all my evidence etc.)
For example this question:
"What does evidence reveal about the structure of Spartan society? In your answer, refer to Source P, other sources, and your own knowledge."
Thanks! (also sorry for the insane amount of questions haha)
For a 15 marker I used proper essay structure, but my intro and conclusion were usually a bit shorter than a full essay. So not one sentence, but whereas in a 25 mark essay my intro would be roughly 100-150 words, for a 15 marker it'd be closer to 75-100 words :) So I'd still make a judgment, briefly explain my judgement and outline my argument.Thanks for the quick response :)
And never apologise for asking questions! I'm here answering because I genuinely enjoy it haha (+ it's A+ procrastination for my citcomm essay ;) )
Hi guys! :)
I need abit of help tackling this particular question in terms of my essay structure.
'Assess the political and religious significance of building programs in this period' (New Kingdom Egypt to the death of Thutmose IV)
Should I make separate paragraphs on each of the Egyptian pharaoh's contribution to the building programs, or make separate paragraphs demonstrating the different ideas of the building program's significance such as the promotion of Amun cult, ideology of kingship and the restoration of past cults, and make examples of the pharaohs's contributions that demonstrate those ideas? *
* I apologise if I am not wording that correctly!
Thankyou!
hi ATAR Notes, I have an essay on the Role of the Army in New Kingdom Egypt to the Death of Thutmose IV and i have no idea how to structure it!!! if anyone could please give me some advice as to some topics i should be discussing i would be extremely grateful :)
Hi All,Hi Angela, I think that covers it pretty well, this site might have some helpful info https://savemyatar.wordpress.com/2012/11/01/conflict-between-mark-antony-and-octavian/
For a practise essay I have the question,
Account for the rivalry and civil war between Octavian and Marc Antony
It is not an assignment, but, it is for my class.
I am aware of their political tensions, Second Triumvirate and previous attitudes towards each other (those will be incorporated within my essay)
But I am unaware of what else I should incorporate into this essay.
Anything would be amazing,
Thank you,
Angela
Hi Angela, I think that covers it pretty well, this site might have some helpful info https://savemyatar.wordpress.com/2012/11/01/conflict-between-mark-antony-and-octavian/
Another thing you could mention is how both wanted individual power and how Octavian used Antony's relationship with Cleopatra to make him out as a political enemy, which he then used to strip him of his power.
Hope this helps! :D
Hi! I was hoping you could help me with a particular aspect of my historical period. I'm doing New Kingdom Egypt and my assignment is due tomorrow - yes I'm officially screwed - and there's one section where I have to talk about Thutmose III relation to Amun-Re. Now I have looked to the ends of the earth about this section and I can barely write a paragraph. It's worth 10 marks and my teacher's told us there's not a lot to write on it but I have no idea what to do! I have these sheets but they only talk about the priesthood of Amun-Re and the its importance, Hatshepsut's role etc I feel like if I mention those it wont answer the question directly.Hey! Sorry only just saw this question :( Unfortunately I didn't study this unit so I can't really help content wise! If it's not too late I'd have a little look around the notes section to see if any relevant notes have been uploaded. Though I don't know the content pretty much at all, what you were saying doesn't sound like it would be bad to mention? I mean when we did Agrippina relationship questions, we often spoke about similar stuff eg. role of Claudius/Nero/Pallas/Seneca etc. etc. If Thutmose III was critical to Amun-Re's priesthood, or it impacted their relationship in some way, then I think that would definitely be a great thing to mention!
Please help!
Hey guys,Hey! The expectation is that you can write 1000 words (roughly 7-8 pages) in 45 mins. With that, a rough guide (because it can vary) would be 300-400 for the 10 marker, and 700-800 for the 15 marker :)
How many pages/words do you recommend to write for this section (10 marker and 15 marker)?
Hi! I know this is a bit of a silly question, but when they ask "rise to prominence" is it only everything that leads up to the succession, or would you include their succession?Not a silly question! Is this for the personality study? If so, "rise to prominence" includes everything under the syllabus dot point - nothing more nothing less :)
Hi Susie!I get what you mean don't worry! Personally I never included the Year of the Four Emperors in those types of quetsions, I just stuck with Tiberius, Gaius, Claudius and Nero :)
Just another quick question: In terms of the Julio-Claudian section, do we include the Year of the Four Emperors in our responses? Obviously I would include it if it asked to discuss this section specifically or if the essay was 'the impact of Nero's death' etc, but if it were 'assess the significance of building programs in this period' or 'how did the role of the princeps change' would you include the Year of the Four Emperors?
Hope this isn't too confusing! Thanks! :)
Hi,In my opinion, you'd be taking a bit of a risk only studying the Persian Wars. Though the two questions are often from different areas of the syllabus to provide greater scope, there is nothing to say that they HAVE to do that. Plus, even if they did do that, what if, even though you understand the Persian Wars better, you get a question that is completely left field, and you don't know how to answer? Always safer to just study everything, and it'll put your mind at ease :)
For the Historical Periods section of the paper, I've noticed that in past HSC papers, question A asks about the first half of the historical period that you're studying (ie; for me [I'm studying the Greek World 500-440BC] the question is always about the Persian Wars) and in question B, it asks about the second half of the historical period (for my topic, the question is always about the development of Athenian Democracy). I understand the Persian wars more than the development of Athenian democracy. So would it be better for me to just focus on studying on the Persian wars or study both topics just in case?? Thank you :)
Hey Susie,Hey Katie! Sorry I missed this question earlier - yes, one for each and every dot point! It varied dot point to dot point, but I tried to get as much as I could, so usually three for each minimum (that was the aim anyway). They ended up being roughly 8-10 pages per topic :)
With your detail tables did you do one for each dot point for Pompeii, Sparta, Julio Claudians and Agrippina? Also, how much archeological evidence and ancient/modern quotes did you try to put in the tables? How many pages were the tables?
Also, how many past papers did you do for Ancient before the trials? Did you do full papers, or just essays? How did you motivate yourself to do this, because at the moment I haven't been able to write a lot of essays?
Thanks :D
Hey Katie! Sorry I missed this question earlier - yes, one for each and every dot point! It varied dot point to dot point, but I tried to get as much as I could, so usually three for each minimum (that was the aim anyway). They ended up being roughly 8-10 pages per topic :)Thanks heaps Susie for all the help! Definitely going to try to do some detail tables, essay plans and past papers. :) :)
Unlike Modern, where I focused my attention on writing full essays, as I found Ancient to be a lot more varied of a subject in terms of what they could ask, I mainly did essay plans, however I did do a lot of past papers as well - for Trials I think I did three full papers, however they weren't necessarily under timed conditions! So I might do an essay here, an extended response there - but it all totalled to 3 papers completed. For me, I think the motivation came from the fact that I genuinely enjoyed the subject, and found the content interesting, however setting goals for yourself is definitely a great motivator. I gave myself a minimum mark for each section, so like "I don't want to get lower than _____". I'm the type of person that HATES disappointing people and myself, so that really pushed me to work hard :)
Hope this helps!
Susie
Hey Susie,Hey! Definitely really hard to find archaeological evidence for Sparta, I know I really struggled last year. I tended to use buildings (like the Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia) a lot, as they tend to be the most prominent examples. I also got a tonne through watching Betany Hughes doco on Sparta (highly recommend watching it, not just for the sources, but because it is literally just amazing - like holy grail for Ancient students). Yes I did often have overlapping evidence within my detail! Like I went over during my lecture, I think it is very important to study smarter not harder, so I actually recommend finding one source that relates to multiple dot points, rather than just a tonne of different ones :)
I'm trying to start doing some detail tables and i'm a bit stuck because there is hardly any archeological evidence for Sparta. How did you find archeological evidence for each dot point? Do you have any suggestions for resources that I can use to find this evidence? I thought I had enough evidence but im realising that I need heaps more! Also did you put evidence in your detail tables that overlapped on syllabus dot points?
Thanks again !! :)
Hi! I'm trying to find quotes / sources that criticize Sara Bisel's creation of 'historical narratives' regarding the victims of Pompeii. Unfortunately I'm having some trouble, does anyone have anything that might be useful?Hey! In terms of sources, you can mention a photograph of a skeleton with golden bangles and rings (often called 'the ring lady') in National Geographic, were those rings were actually from a different find, but were put on the skeleton to make for a more interesting photograph. Another skeleton known as 'The soldier' is also a good example, as she created an elaborate backstory for him (and many other skeletons), based on little to no actual evidence.
Hey!!Hey there! For me, the way that I mainly studied for Ancient was doing essay plans, and full practice papers (and getting them marked too!). In terms of memorising content, this guide was written for Modern, but the worksheets technique will still work really well for Ancient as well! I also recommend being strategic about what sources you memorising. Rather than trying to memorise a completely unique source for every syllabus dot point, try and find sources that work for multiple dot points instead - for example the Temple of Isis in Pompeii can work as a source for questions on Evidence for the Eruption, Social Structure, Religion, Greek and Egyptian Culture, Public Buildings (Temples), etc. etc. etc. :)
I need some help with studying techniques for Ancient in my trials. I don't know how to memorise all the content and sources because there is legit so much stuff to shove into my brain. Any strategies at all would help.
Thank you verry much!!
Hey! In terms of sources, you can mention a photograph of a skeleton with golden bangles and rings (often called 'the ring lady') in National Geographic, were those rings were actually from a different find, but were put on the skeleton to make for a more interesting photograph. Another skeleton known as 'The soldier' is also a good example, as she created an elaborate backstory for him (and many other skeletons), based on little to no actual evidence.
I don't have much in the way of quotes I'm afraid - does anyone else have anything they think could help Sarah out?
Thanks so much! This really helps. If anyone has any good quotes that would be extra amazing :) :)Hey,
Hey,Hey,
I've got my Ancient Trials on Friday, and we haven't done any work in class on how to respond for an essay on Agrippina. Has anyone already done their Personalities essay and have a few tips on what to include/not to?
We only got up to the second major dot point and I don't feel prepared for it.
Thanks! And good luck anyone else for Trials!
Hey,Hey!! The questions can only cover the dot points that you have already studied - if they go beyond that, then you have every right to complain, because that'd be grossly unfair. For part A it is a lower order question, eg. describe, outline, explain, etc. Meaning that you don't need to make a judgement, and can sometimes even write in a more narrative form! Part B is analytical, but lucky for you guys the question for Agrippina never changes! It will always be on legacy and interpretations. With that in mind, I always constructed my Agrippina part B responses with a paragraph for each interpretation;
I've got my Ancient Trials on Friday, and we haven't done any work in class on how to respond for an essay on Agrippina. Has anyone already done their Personalities essay and have a few tips on what to include/not to?
We only got up to the second major dot point and I don't feel prepared for it.
Thanks! And good luck anyone else for Trials!
Hey,
I'm in exactly the same position as you. My class is doing Agrippina but are still only the the second dot point. My exams are about two weeks away for Ancient but my teacher told us the question will definitely be from the first couple of dot points from the syllabus. I think the questions (hopefully), shouldn't be as hard because we can't really evaluate anything from the last dot point (legacy, influence,etc.). I think because we haven't done a lot of the syllabus the questions might be easier 'describe' ones but i'm not too sure.
I'm sorry I can't really help heaps but Susie should have heaps of advice. :)
Hey!! The questions can only cover the dot points that you have already studied - if they go beyond that, then you have every right to complain, because that'd be grossly unfair. For part A it is a lower order question, eg. describe, outline, explain, etc. Meaning that you don't need to make a judgement, and can sometimes even write in a more narrative form! Part B is analytical, but lucky for you guys the question for Agrippina never changes! It will always be on legacy and interpretations. With that in mind, I always constructed my Agrippina part B responses with a paragraph for each interpretation;
- The evil stepmother
- The sexual deviant
- The hyper-masculine woman commander
- The feminist icon
So I'd have a paragraph on each of these! Note that they all deal with her femininity as well - which is a great thematic through line that you can incorporate. Throughout the response, you assess how and why these interpretations were formed, and how they have contributed to the shaping of her legacy.
As you said you have not reached the final dot point yet, you may not even have to do this! But this is what it almost always is on the HSC exam. I've attached both a Part A and Part B response for Agrippina that I wrote last year which received full marks, if you want to have a look in terms of structure :D
Susie
You are a godsend! Thank you! My next question was going to be about the required length that you would recommend :)No worries! Happy to help :) In terms of length, as much as you can write in 18 minutes for part A, and 27 minutes for part B (roughly)!
Just another question, would you avoid a particular POV of Agrippina? My teacher always shies away from the 'sexual deviant' portrayal of Agrippina and doesn't recommend for us to do it.
Thanks for answering!
No worries! Happy to help :) In terms of length, as much as you can write in 18 minutes for part A, and 27 minutes for part B (roughly)!I'll try to stick to that outline, thanks
Personally I always mentioned the sexual deviant portrayal, and think that it is quite critical to Agrippina, as her supposed immoral sexual exploits, and the way in which she utilised her sexuality to secure power was a crucial way in which the Ancient historians attempt to shame her, and paint her in this negative light. Does your teacher provide any reason for not including it? For Trials, if they really don' like it, then don't use it as your teacher will be marking it - but in the HSC Agrippina was my best section (my school bought back my responses - close to full marks), and I definitely mentioned this perspective.
Hey Susie,I used numismatic evidence (so coins) from gaius, claudius and Nero's reign, and statutes - in particular the sebasteon reliefs; the one where she is standing level with Claudius, and the other where she is literally crowning Nero. I think archaeological evidence is very significant for Agrippina, as it can be used to both support and contrast the "legacies" presented!
For Agrippina, what types of archaeological evidence did you study? I know she is on coins, and statues but are more that I should use? Also are archeological sources as needed compared to other sections, because the longer essay is mainly on her legacy?
Last term for Julio Claudians I needed to do an essay on the changing role of the princeps, and my teacher said that some of my stuff wasn't really relevant to the dot point. What should I be saying if we have an essay on this dot point?So you can either answer this question by having a paragraph on each Princeps, or you can do it thematically - so how did their role change politically (I'd look at relationship to the Senate here, and also their level of activity and contribution), socio-culturally (I'd look at religion here!) and militarily (role of the army and expansion and consolidation!) :)
Thanks again Susie!! :D
Hey,Hey! So unfortunately I didn't study this topic, but I might be able to help a bit. That is a kinda weird question to get for an essay to be completely honest - I've never seen an "outline" question before, but no worries - the way I would go about structuring something like this if we got a similar question for the Julio-Claudian period would be to either a) have a paragraph each on different military commands and their effects, b) thematic essay, so paragraph on the political/social/economic/militaristic impact or c) a paragraph on each ruler, and how they commanded the military :)
Is anyone else studying the fall of the roman republic?
If so, how would I go about answering the question 'outline the role military commands played in Roman Politics during the period of 78-31BC?
Hey :DLITERALLY ME this time last year!! Don't worry, I think most schools are a bit unbalanced when it comes to this syllabus, and focus too much on the emperors, and not the Empire as a whole (ie. role of the army, expansion and consolidation etc. etc). I think writing essay plans would be a good way forward! That is what I did last year - trying to work out the links and patterns between your arguments, as I found that a lot of my policies and reforms points were transferrable! Focus more on the questions that look at the general scope of the period as well, rather than ones that look specifically at an emperor (ie. look at "Account for the role of the senate during the Julio-Claudian period" more than "To what extent was Claudius an effective Princeps".)
I've got my Ancient trial exam on Wednesday and I'm pretty concerned about the historical period section.
I'm doing the Julio-Claudians at my school and I haven't really focused on any of the dot points besides the reforms and policies of the Julio-Claudian rulers. I had an assignment on this dot point and focused wayyyy too much on it and neglected studying the other dot points :-\ :-\
What would be the best approach for study at this stage, I feel like I'm screwed haha. Should I just create like practice essays for each of other other dot points? Is there even time for that now?? I feel like there r literally soo many questions that could be asked and I'm only really prepared for one possible question....
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks! :D
LITERALLY ME this time last year!! Don't worry, I think most schools are a bit unbalanced when it comes to this syllabus, and focus too much on the emperors, and not the Empire as a whole (ie. role of the army, expansion and consolidation etc. etc). I think writing essay plans would be a good way forward! That is what I did last year - trying to work out the links and patterns between your arguments, as I found that a lot of my policies and reforms points were transferrable! Focus more on the questions that look at the general scope of the period as well, rather than ones that look specifically at an emperor (ie. look at "Account for the role of the senate during the Julio-Claudian period" more than "To what extent was Claudius an effective Princeps".)This makes me feel soo much better haha ;D I'm glad you were in the same place last year ;D ;D
Hope this helps! GOOD LUCK!!!
Susie
Hi! I'm doing a Julio-Claudian essay with the question:Hey! So been a while since I dealt with this topic so bare with me aha, but I believe you still could make the argument that Nero utilised his self-deification to legitimise his rule, whether or not that was successfully achieved! If your thesis is that it was contingent upon their "desire for political legitimacy" then you're more so focusing on aims rather than results. By deifying himself, and associating himself with the gods (particularly the sun god), he was strengthening his claim to Princepship. Furthermore, deifying Claudius also legitimised his rise to power, as perhaps it would have made people believe that their relationship was stronger (considering he was not the biological son of Claudius) - even if Claudius was unpopular, doesn't change the fact that the people with true power (Agrippina, Seneca and Burrus) didn't want the Julio-Claudian dynasty to end.
Analyse the development of the Imperial Cult during this period.
My thesis reads:
The development of the Imperial Cult was contingent on the Julio-Claudian's desire for political legitimacy.
I have points for all emperors but Nero, and I was wondering how you'd tackle it. Nero deified Claudius, only to then neglect it and encourage his own. I can't argue that he sought to legitimise his rule through Claudius because Claudius himself was seemingly very unpopular, and it's hard to argue that his own cult legitimise him both because he made many unhappy with his self deification AND because he was assassinated.
What would you do?
Hi! I'm doing a Julio-Claudian essay with the question:Hey,
Analyse the development of the Imperial Cult during this period.
My thesis reads:
The development of the Imperial Cult was contingent on the Julio-Claudian's desire for political legitimacy.
I have points for all emperors but Nero, and I was wondering how you'd tackle it. Nero deified Claudius, only to then neglect it and encourage his own. I can't argue that he sought to legitimise his rule through Claudius because Claudius himself was seemingly very unpopular, and it's hard to argue that his own cult legitimise him both because he made many unhappy with his self deification AND because he was assassinated.
What would you do?
Hey,Hey! You could also talk about how the fact that they were not banished was perhaps as a warning or means of humiliation, and emphasised how steadfast the Spartan's were in their search for physical/emotional perfection (in a way it could be seen as like pruning a rose to help it grow stronger aha). And YES you definitely want sources for a 3 marker! Preferably you want sources/evidence for any point that you make :)
Not quite sure how to answer this question properly "What was the significance of the ‘inferiors’ in Spartan society?" (HSC 2015)
I just said that having this category rather than ostracising people entirely meant that Sparta could maintain their social order and prevent any revolts. Is there anything else I could say? It's also a three marker, do I need to add a source somewhere?
Thanks!
Hey Everyone,Good work on maintaining a solid internal mark!!! That'll definitely set you up well for the exam :) Sounds like you are studying well so far! Past papers are definitely the best way to go :) In terms of memorising sources, remember that you can cut down your workload significantly by studying sources that relate to multiple syllabus dot points, rather than just one! For example, the Temple of Isis doesn't relate to just religion, but also evidence for;
I was just wondering what everyones methods are for studying for the Ancient Exam, my internal mark is really good at the moment I really want that band 6 haha. I've been doing past papers both under and not under exam conditions and just revising all of my notes and will memorise majority of my sources for each dot point. I have no idea if I should be attempting to memorise all of my sources or if there is any other great methods in learning all of the ancient content which really seems like an impossible task.
Thanks in advance :)
Hi guys,Hey! That just means that if a source may be unreliable to some extent (as many ancient historians are) you preface this is some way :) For example, for my historical period study, the Julio-Claudians, lets say I wanted to use this quote from Suetonius about Claudius - "The vigour of both his mind and his body was dulled, and even when he reached the proper age he was not thought capable of any public or private business.” I'd bring up not only Suetonius' perchance for exaggeration and drama, but also Suetonius' negative perception of Claudius may be due to the fact that he is attempting to present a negative view of the Julio-Claudians in general, as an attempt to vicariously comment upon the problems of the Empire of his own context, without making any treasonous statements aha, which of course means that his statement may not be wholly accurate. So normally I'd phrase it like this;
So I was just looking at the marking guidelines for the 2016 Ancient exam historical period section, and I noticed that the Band 6 criteria says 'Supports the response with detailed and accurate information from relevant sources; may analyse and evaluate sources', how do you incorporate your evaluation of sources?
Thanks!
Hi! I'm doing New Kingdom Egypt to the death of Thutmose IV for my historical period - which may not be the historical period you did - and its split into Internal developments and Expansions of boundaries, is it typically going to be a question from each one of the sections in the HSC or do you think they would do 2 questions based on one section?Yeah didn't do that topic but all gee :) I'd say it'd be quite rare for them to have two questions on one section, HOWEVER that is just an educated guess. There is no rule book saying they can't do that, I'd just assume that as the point of giving two questions is to let students choose what question they are most comfortable with, it would be a bit contradictory to give you two on the same area. I'd still make sure you have a solid understanding of both areas though, just in case!
Hey Susie,Hey! Unfortunately I didn't have a table for Sparta :( Only Agrippina and the Julio-Claudians, as they were the ones that I would actually have to make arguments for frequently, whereas with Sparta they were mainly lower order questions. However, if I were to write one, and keep in mind this is off the top of my head, I would definitely mention the fact that the majority of written sources are coming from an Athenian perspective, who didn't like the Spartans very much aha ;) I'd also probably mention the poetry of Alcman (not as much Tyrteaus as though it was very literary content wise does contribute to the Spartan mirage), who works are more about wonder and luxury :)
With your argument/interpretation tables what were your main arguments for Sparta within the Spartan mirage?
Thanks :)
Hey! :)Yes, those would both be valid answers! From memory, the technology dot point focuses mainly on military equipment, like the hoplite spear, the hoplon and the use of the Phalanx, and then pottery! I definitely remember being confused with this dot point as well, but basically I believe it means anything that the Spartans created/adapted (ie. there own form of spear, their own form/style of pottery, etc.) - a better word would probably have been "inovation".
Just a quick question, this was in the 2014 ancient past paper:
(a) identify TWO examples of technology in this period
Unforutantely the answers that BOSTES provides only gives you the marking criteria for that question and doesn't list any examples.
For my response I wrote
- Hoplite spears
- Hoplon (shield made of wood covered with a sheet of bronze)
Would these be valid answers? And for this dot point 'technology' what exactly should you be referring to, would military equipment be classified under 'technology.' I feel like this dot point is a bit unclear.
Thanks! ;D
Yes, those would both be valid answers! From memory, the technology dot point focuses mainly on military equipment, like the hoplite spear, the hoplon and the use of the Phalanx, and then pottery! I definitely remember being confused with this dot point as well, but basically I believe it means anything that the Spartans created/adapted (ie. there own form of spear, their own form/style of pottery, etc.) - a better word would probably have been "inovation".Thanks for the clarification ;D
Hope this helps,
Susie
Hey! This question from the 2013 completely threw me off and i'm annoyed at myself that I don't have notes on this section ;(Hey,
"Explain how Pompeii and Herculaneum were affected differently by the eruption of Mt Vesuvius"
So far I mentioned that P had 4 metres of ash, whilst H had 20m. Also mentioned how the Pompeiians and Herculaneans died. But I don't know what else to add. It's a six marker after all. What would be good evidence besides the ash and the bodies?
Thanks!
Hey,
- The first and second pyroclastic surge destroyed Herculaneum while the remaining four destroyed Pompeii. While the Plinian phase (ash/pumice/gas) mainly affected Pompeii, the Pyroclastic surges mainly affected Herculaneum (eventually burying it in 20m of ash)
- Due to the different volcanic experiences, whole two story houses and carbonised wooden features were preserved at Herculaneum. In Pompeii, I think that the weight of the ash and pumice caused the second story of buildings to collapse.
Hope this helps :)
Hi,Hey! I feel like something from Cultural Life could come up, as it hasn't for a long while! That was what I predicted last years question would be (and I was wrong), but still gunning that it'll have to show up at some point!
Just wondering what anyone's predictions are for the Spartan society section this year? I know we shouldn't rely on predictions but just curious as to what sections are more likely.
Thanks :)
Where can I find past papers without copyright blocks in them? Most of the sources have been blocked on the nesa website ;(Hey! I couldn't find them for all of the years, but here are the booklets for 2010 and 2011! Hope this helps!
Hey! I feel like something from Cultural Life could come up, as it hasn't for a long while! That was what I predicted last years question would be (and I was wrong), but still gunning that it'll have to show up at some point!
What information and how much detail would you have to include in this personality question (part a) for Agrippina the Younger:Hey! Looks like you've got a pretty extensive response already :) The big emphasis is that she is connected directly to every single Julio-Claudian Emperor. You've got everything there that I would think to include, if you're concerned about time, it might just be a case of expanding what you have already through detail! Like maybe link how her connection to Germanicus afforded her respect from the Army/Praetorian Guard. You could have mentioned her connection to her brother Gaius as well.
A) Describe Agrippina’s Julio-Claudian background.
In my practice response I mentioned how Agrippina's mother and father both have connections to Augustus. For her mother (Agrippina the elder) there is a direct lineage as she is Augustus' great-grand daughter whilst for her father (Germanicus) he was adopted by Tiberius who was adopted by Augustus. I also mentioned how her Julio-Claudian background had a major impact later in life. This only took me like one page though, so how much more would you have to include for the full 10 marks? Also how many quotes would you be expected to include for these questions.
Any help would be great,
Thanks! ;D
Hey just wondering whether anyone has any predictions for the P&H 10-marker plus any other short answer q's that the core section may ask?Hey! As always take predictions with a grain of salt, and don't adjust your study pattern based on an uneducated hunch. Ancient is really hard to predict in terms of short answers, just because the syllabus is SO expansive. However, I feel like ethical concerns could maybe come up for the 10 marker :)
Thanks for all the help!
Hey! Looks like you've got a pretty extensive response already :) The big emphasis is that she is connected directly to every single Julio-Claudian Emperor. You've got everything there that I would think to include, if you're concerned about time, it might just be a case of expanding what you have already through detail! Like maybe link how her connection to Germanicus afforded her respect from the Army/Praetorian Guard. You could have mentioned her connection to her brother Gaius as well.Thanks Susie! :D
Any predictions for the Agrippina the Younger personality questions (both part a and b)?Your part B question will be super similar - it hardly ever changes, always on either image/legacy! Part A I feel like maybe one on the basis of her power and influence?
Last year they asked
a) Describe Agrippina's marriages
b) How has the image of Agrippina changed over time?
I'm so sad that those won't be our questions :( last years paper would've been good haha
Okay I am seriously bad at ancient history exams and I really don't know how to study for the essay (Julio-Claudians).
Anyone have some pointers!? I don't know where to start :/
Thanks!
Best way to study for section 4 is to make essay plans. Grab all the essay questions from the past 5 years or so and make an essay plan for each question.couldn't have said it better myself! Great work Beatroot!
Make sure to include:
- What essay do you want to write? A factors essay? A thematic one? An events essay?
- A sample introduction (with your judgement)
- Your paragraphs. What main topic do you want for each paragraph? Include dot points of all the things you want you say. Make sure to keep relating all your points to your judgement. Do open book so that this part is easier :)
- Sources. Think about all the sources you think are appropriate. As my teacher would say, its best to have all WAMA (Written, archaeological, modern and ancient) sources. Archaeological evidence is definitely the go to. I don't do Julio-Claudians, but there should be some good archaeological evidence that you can use. But if not, there are always the written sources too. Have a mix of modern and ancient writers to beef up your response.
- If possible, try to link all your paragraphs together. You can have this plan within the paragraph plans or have a separate dot point.
Essay plans are meant to be short so this should take around 10-15 mins. This will make you more prepared for the exam. Typically the questions in section 4 are quite flexible.
Although, if possible try writing at least one full from one of your essay plans. Just to have an idea how long it is and see what areas you can improve on.
Hope this helps :)
Best way to study for section 4 is to make essay plans. Grab all the essay questions from the past 5 years or so and make an essay plan for each question.
Make sure to include:
- What essay do you want to write? A factors essay? A thematic one? An events essay?
- A sample introduction (with your judgement)
- Your paragraphs. What main topic do you want for each paragraph? Include dot points of all the things you want you say. Make sure to keep relating all your points to your judgement. Do open book so that this part is easier :)
- Sources. Think about all the sources you think are appropriate. As my teacher would say, its best to have all WAMA (Written, archaeological, modern and ancient) sources. Archaeological evidence is definitely the go to. I don't do Julio-Claudians, but there should be some good archaeological evidence that you can use. But if not, there are always the written sources too. Have a mix of modern and ancient writers to beef up your response.
- If possible, try to link all your paragraphs together. You can have this plan within the paragraph plans or have a separate dot point.
Essay plans are meant to be short so this should take around 10-15 mins. This will make you more prepared for the exam. Typically the questions in section 4 are quite flexible.
Although, if possible try writing at least one full from one of your essay plans. Just to have an idea how long it is and see what areas you can improve on.
Hope this helps :)
Is it true that buildings in Herculaneum were mostly double story and in Pompeii were mostly single story, or the other way around?.... I feel like i read that somewhere, or am i wrong are they all different?
This isn't really a question, but I would just like to say thankyou to Susie and everyone else on this thread ;D ;D, you guys have helped soo much this year, it has been great to go beyond my school and talk to others doing the subject on this forum.
Best of luck with the rest of your exams! :)
Hi ATARNotes! I was wondering what's the difference between the "Atrium House", "Atrium-Peristyle House" and "Creative Atrium-Peristyle House"Hey,
hey guys,Hey! So obviously I'm not in your teachers head, so I'm not 100% sure how they plan on structuring this exam, but maybe you could try some of these?
I have my first assessment task for Ancient History, its on Pompeii and Herculaneum. It will be about public buildings and its an in class writing task. We get two sources.
The only hint we've gotten is a list of things to know: the location, why was it built, role in society, relevance of location, how did people interact with it, other sources relating to public buildings.
The public buildings given by my teacher include:Forum, Temple of Jupiter, Temple of Apollo, Temple of Lares, The Temple of the Genius of Augustus, Macellum, The Edifice of Eumachia, Voting Hall, Municipal Offices, Basilica, Public Latrines, Palaestra, Theatres, Amphitheatres.
Can anyone give me some practice questions relating to the information I've just mentioned? My test is next week Friday.
Thank you guys!
From theyam
hi guys i have a question about the julio-claudians and the roman empireHey! Good question! This was actually from the 2017 HSC! With a question like that, imo you have two options - either you approach it according to the emperors (so chronologically detail the relationship between the Emperor of the time and the Senate, and how that affected their role and responsibilities), or you structure it according to how the role and responsibilities changed (imo the best way to structure this would be; administrational role and influence, respect received from Emperors, etc. etc.).
i have an essay and the question is "To what extent did the role and responsibilities of the Senate change under the Julio-Claudian rulers?"
how do you answer these types of questions, and also did the role and responsibilites change a lot or not too much? because some of the sources ive read contradict each other.
thank you!
Hey! So obviously I'm not in your teachers head, so I'm not 100% sure how they plan on structuring this exam, but maybe you could try some of these?
1. Describe the religious significance of public buildings in Pompeii (sources: A a dedicatory plaque of the Temple of Isis. The plaque states that Numerius Popidus Celsinus provided the money to rebuild the temple after the earthquake., B the Temple of Jupiter.)
2. Outline the role and purpose of Public Buildings in Pompeii and Herculaneum (sources: C a plan of the Basilica in Pompeii, and D the palaestra of Herculaneum)
3. Describe the role of the Forum in Pompeii (sources: E, a plan of the Forum in Pompeii and Source B: Quote from Mary Beard; "Today Pompeii’s Forum is a rather barren and disappointing open space. In the paintings, we see it full of people about their business: a group of men consulting some (presumably) official notices; a schoolmaster who has installed his class under the colonnade (and is in the process of giving one child a very nasty beating); a family who seem to be choosing shoes from a cobbler’s stall; and a posh lady apparently giving some spare change to a beggar with a dog. It actually looks like a bustling city centre." )
Hi Susie!Oh really? That's interesting - it's quite an important public building! The Temple of Isis was the official place of worship for the Cult of Isis in Pompeii. What attracted many people to the Cult (and by extension, the Temple) was its inclusivity - slaves and women were invited to take part within their practices. The Cult is believed to be so significant, that after the earthquake of 62AD repairs began on the Temple of Isis before even the Temple of Jupiter!
Thank you so much your practice questions! I never learnt the Temple of Isis tho o.0
From theyam
Hi all! How could I make "changing methods and contributions of nineteenth and twentieth century archaeologists " into 3 themes and "changing interpretations: impact of new research and technologies" into another three themes. My teacher is telling my class to theme my 10 marker but I don't understand how. Help?Hey! For 'changing methods and contributions of nineteenth and twentieth century archaeologists', your themes could literally be the ways that they contributed, in the broadest sense. Think of the positives and negatives of excavation over the years, the most common practices or discoveries, etc. etc. For example, some themes that I can think of would be (these are not all the themes that you could look at, just the ones off the top of my head);
Hey! For 'changing methods and contributions of nineteenth and twentieth century archaeologists', your themes could literally be the ways that they contributed, in the broadest sense. Think of the positives and negatives of excavation over the years, the most common practices or discoveries, etc. etc. For example, some themes that I can think of would be (these are not all the themes that you could look at, just the ones off the top of my head);
1. Systematic practices (eg. Top-Down excavation, numbering of houses, catalogued artefacts, photography etc. etc.)
2. Dramatisation (How and why archeologists contributed to dramatisation, eg. Maiuri and Bisel)
3. Conservation and Restoration v. Excavation (looking at more modern archeological practices - Fausto Zevi)
For 'changing interpretations, impact of new research and technologies', you would want to be looking at exactly that; impact. What are the various ways that new research and technology has prompted a change in interpretations of Pompeii and Herculaneum? Think about the specific ways in which our understanding changed. Notice any patterns? Off the top of my head, here are some ideas :)
1. Understanding of the health of residents in Pompeii and Herculaneum
2. Understanding of public and private buildings
3. Impact of the inclusion of broader studies (eg. Volcanology)
Hope this helps!
Susie
And so could I talk aboutPretty much! Systematic practices is fine. Dramatisation is they way to describe the way in which the sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum have been dramatised - their is an emphasis on the narrative of Pompeii and Herculaneum, as they excavate with the intent on creating a good story. In terms of Maiuri, he did this to validate Italian exceptionalism, by creating a rich, exceptional history to aid Mussolini. Sarah Bisel was funded by the national geographic, and is responsible for making up backstories for human remains based upon little evidence (eg. ring lady). Both have been accused of tampering with evidence as well. Third one is fine, I might mention how they are utilising new technology such as x-rays and 3D animation to continue to "virtually" excavate, without actually touching/damaging the buildings.
1. Systematic practices
- Top-Down excavations = Vittorio Spinazzola
- Numbering of Houses = Giuseppe Fiorelli
- Photography = Fausto Zevi
2. Dramatisation —> Not really sure about what this means
- Amedeo Maiuri: Revealing as much as the site as possible but was destructive
- Sarah Bisel: ?
3. Conservation and Restoration v. Excavation
- Conservation:
- International Cooperation = Having an emphasis on restoring and protecting areas of sites that are under close study
- Fausto Zevi = Halting excavations and concentrated on restoring
- Excavation:
- Carlo Bonnucci = Corrupt and incompetent, with no concern for the preservation but discovered the Forum and Stabian Baths, House of the Tragic Poet and Faun.
hi,They are secondary sources, as they have been written many years after the events in question! Just because their ancient, doesn't make them primary sources - for those, you'd want to be looking at archeological evidence (eg. numismatic evidence, statues, art, official inscriptions, etc. etc. :) )
im writing an essay on the julio claudians, and i need to include primary and secondary sources. Are quotes from tacitus, suetonius etc considered as primary or secondary sources?
They are secondary sources, as they have been written many years after the events in question! Just because their ancient, doesn't make them primary sources - for those, you'd want to be looking at archeological evidence (eg. numismatic evidence, statues, art, official inscriptions, etc. etc. :) )
another question-With a "to what extent" question, you need to be answering just that! To what extent/how much was blah a critical factor, or contribute to change, or was significant etc. etc. What is important to note with this type of question, is that there is always an assumed degree of say significance. For example, with the question "To what extent was Claudius an effective Princeps", their is already an assumed degree of effectiveness, so saying "Claudius was effective" or "Claudius was ineffective" doesn't answer the question. Instead, you'd have to say "Claudius was highly effective" or "Claudius was effective to a limited extent", in order to properly answer a "to what extent" question!
how do you properly answer to what extent questions?
Hi guys!
Holidays are coming up soon and I was wondering whether I should be doing anything for Ancient History other than notes. Should I be doing some form of practice responses or?
Thanks guys~
From theyam
Yep definitely do notes and practice questions! Half yearlies occur around ~march next year. Don’t forget to brainstorm sources and quotes to beef up your responses. Though don’t overwork yourself during the summer holidays. Maintain balance between school work and your life :)
Hi beatroot!
Thank you for your quick reply! Oh god I still can't believe I'm doing my HSC course if I'm perfectly honest, how often should I be doing these practice responses?
From theyam
hi,Hey tina :)
how would you guys answer this question (topic is Julio-Cluaidns and the Roman Empire AD 14-69): Assess the effectiveness of the administration of the empire in this period.
thanks :)
hi,Hey, i don't do ancient, but im gonna try and give a hand anyway!
how would you guys answer this question (topic is Julio-Cluaidns and the Roman Empire AD 14-69): Assess the effectiveness of the administration of the empire in this period.
thanks :)
Hey tina :)Building on susie's answer, im going to say the second one may be more effective. Only because doing it thematically (focusing on certain aspects of the aministration) sounds to me (my opinion only) that you're assuming that each aspect of the administration (to take one for example, the senate) was run similarly over that entire period.
With a question like that, the way that I would go about it (not that you have to do what I did!), would be to either structure it thematically, according to the ways in which administration of the empire was conducted (eg. maybe I'd have a paragraph on the role of the senate, or the imperial bureaucracy, etc. etc), or you could structure it according to the different emperors, so a paragraph on Tiberius, a paragraph of Gaius, a paragraph on Claudius, and a paragraph on Nero :)
I'll let you fill in the blanks (ie what to put in each paragraph), if you need any more help please let us know.
Hope this helps!
Hey tina :)
With a question like that, the way that I would go about it (not that you have to do what I did!), would be to either structure it thematically, according to the ways in which administration of the empire was conducted (eg. maybe I'd have a paragraph on the role of the senate, or the imperial bureaucracy, etc. etc), or you could structure it according to the different emperors, so a paragraph on Tiberius, a paragraph of Gaius, a paragraph on Claudius, and a paragraph on Nero :)
I'll let you fill in the blanks (ie what to put in each paragraph), if you need any more help please let us know.
Hope this helps!
Hey, i don't do ancient, but im gonna try and give a hand anyway!Building on susie's answer, im going to say the second one may be more effective. Only because doing it thematically (focusing on certain aspects of the aministration) sounds to me (my opinion only) that you're assuming that each aspect of the administration (to take one for example, the senate) was run similarly over that entire period.
By doing it with paragraphs based on the leaders, you can look at the different ways, successes and faliures that were involved with each specific ruler.
Also, remember this is an assessquestion. Basically asses means "make a judgement based on criteria. So you need to look at everything those specific leaders did during their time in power, (everything they did, their successes and faliures are the criteria) and make a judgement about how effective or ineffective it that ruler was and their administration.
This is very rough, so i hope it makes sense!
It's also my opinion, and how i'd structure the response, you don't have to do it this way, but i hope it helps you decide!
Good luck! :)
HelloHey,
For the dot point: changing methods and contributions of nineteenth and twentieth century archaeologists to our understanding of Pompeii and Herculaneum
My teacher gave us a document with works from Dr Estelle Lazer, Jaye Pont and Penelope Allison. But they're from the 21st century and the dot point says 19-20 century. The works of Estelle Lazer have been interweaved in dot point, appearances of the people but should I be taking notes about the other 2? Usually I wouldn't mind doing extra notes but theres just so many other people I need to know form the 19-20th century already, I don't exactly want to have spent so much time on people I wont need for an exam.
Thank you :)
From theyam
Hey !!Hey,
I have an extended response due but I'm not sure what I should even talk about for 500 words?! Any help would be brilliant <3
"Discuss Agrippina the Younger’s relation to the Julio – Claudians (500 words)"
Hello,
I was wondering if it was possible if someone could de-construct the sample answer to the one of the 2017 HSC questions. I've looked at the marking criteria but I'm still not exactly sure what constitutes a 4 marker. Could someone help please?
Outline the influence of Egyptian culture in Pompeii. In your answer, refer to Source F and your own knowledge. (4 marks)
The Source is the Mosaic in the House of Faun, the one with the hippo in the Nile, but you probably already figure that out after you read the sample answer XD.
Sample answer on NESA:
Source F provides useful information about the influence of Egyptian culture in Pompeii. We
notice the depiction of an animal (the hippopotamus) which is associated with Egypt; we can
also discern vegetation (eg the papyrus reeds) which are also associated with Egypt; and, of
course, the body of water which comprises much of the mosaic would logically be the river
Nile. All of these elements strongly indicate to the viewer an Egyptian context. The fact that
this mosaic depiction is found in a private residence at the Roman colony of Pompeii (the
House of the Faun) reflects the impact of Egyptian artistic representation and style with
particular respect to the elite class.
Marking Guidelines:
"- Clearly outlines the influence of Egyptian culture in Pompeii
• Refers to Source F and own knowledge
• Uses historical terms and concepts appropriately "
Thank you
Hi All!Hey! So look - I didn't study this option, so when it comes to the specific stuff you want to be including, I'm not going to be much help.
I'm currently going through past papers for the [Historical Period: Option J: Fourth Century Greece the Death of Philip II of Macedon] and I have no idea how to structure it. The question that I'm trying to do is "Evaluate the nature and impact of the Spartan Hegemony"
Any help would be greattt!!!
Hi i was doing my notes on Pompeii and Herculaneum(a bit late i know) and i normally do these with reference to a variety of notes from other people. I encountered an issue on the syllabus dot point private buildings.For it, i have seen people not only look generally at the features of Houses but some notes also make detailed notes about specific houses and villas, this is a lot of extra work, and i am curious on whether i should do it for myself. Will we ever need detailed examples on the contents of specific houses, like the house of the faun and tragic poet, or Villas, such as the villa of the papyri and Mysteries, or do you think generalized statements and whatever is shown in the sources will be enough to get me a good mark in the HSC?Hey! So the answer is kind of yes, kind of no.
Thank you so much to taking the time to read this, any advice/opinions are appreciated.
Yo,Hey! So its a bit tricky for me to say how you should write notes, as thats quite an individual thing imo, but just make sure that you don't lump everything together. Like with all the other sections, evidence is important, so you want to make sure that for every "general fact" you have in your notes, you have a project to back it up :)
another question, how should i make notes for dot point: Changing interpretations: impact of new research and technologies? Should I do it by listing and grouping New technologies or by doing specific projects. And what sorts of impacts should i write about, conservation/ analysis? Some specific advice would be nice or some notes.
Thank you so much in advance, for taking the time to read and answer this question
Heya!
Quick question, in regards to the 15 mark mini essay for personalities, roughly how many points of evidence would you need in each of your paragraphs?
Thanks in advance!
Hello
Was just wondering if anyone could provide an outline of how they would answer this question: How did Hatshepsut’s background prepare her for her prominent role?
I tried answering it but I feel like I wouldn't have enough content to get 10 marks. I've only got her family background (Thutmose 1, Queen Ahmose, Amenhotep 1 and Thutmose 2)
Thank you
Hello,Hey, Welcome to the forums!! ;D
Really need guidance to respond to this question: Describe Agrippina’s relationship with Nero.
Should I compare her relations before he ecame princeps and after (deteriorated relationship)?
Hi ATAR Notes,
I wanted to practise answering some short answer questions for Ancient History and got a little confused as to how many sources to include depending on the amount of marks the question is worth... Do you have to include any sources for a 3 mark or 4 mark question? And for 6 markers and 8 markers, how many sources do you need?
Thanks :)
Hi ATARnotes,Hey,
I'm just looking over some of my notes for Pompeii and I remebered that my lecturer for the most revcent ancient history ATARnotes lecture (Susie Dodds) mentioned something on "The Ringed Lady" and how theres a lot of controversy around it. I've tried googling it and I can only find resources praising it as amazing proof of ancient jewellry... Anyone have a good resource?
Thanks,
Tamsyn
Hello ATAR Notes,Hello Juliana,
For Sparta, do you know where I can find modern writers? I have a lot of information for ancient writers but not for modern writers.
- Juliana
Hello ATAR Notes,Hey Juliana :)
For Sparta, do you know where I can find modern writers? I have a lot of information for ancient writers but not for modern writers.
- Juliana
Hello Juliana,Hello Jack.
I completed Sparta last term- interesting place indeed! For my modern authors I used Nigel Kennel, Paul Cartledge, and also Bradbury and Ken Webb (but never, ever quote Bradley nor Webb, they're textbook writers not actual historians- such fakes)
Hope this helps :)
- Jack
Hey Juliana :)Hello!!!
I actually did VCE but I would assume the two can't be too different. When you say modern writers, do you mean modern historians who have researched / written books about Spartan history? If so, try The Spartans by Paul Cartledge or Ancient Greece (which would cover Sparta) by Pamela Bradley and Thomas Martin (two different books, same name - would recommend Martin over Bradley as hers is a textbook). Bettany Hughes also has a really good documentary on Sparta which I would recommend checking out. Donald Kagan is good if you want to read about Sparta and its relationship with Athens during the Peloponnesian War.
Hope that's relevant to what you're studying :)
Hello ATAR Notes,Hey,
For Sparta, do you know where I can find modern writers? I have a lot of information for ancient writers but not for modern writers.
- Juliana
Hey,
I should also have some quotes from modern historians about Sparta in my detail tables here
Hope they help! :)
Hi Atar notes.
When you have a question for example:
"Assess the contribution of at least TWO Greek Leaders to the Greek Victory in the Persian wars."
Would you only talk about two leaders or talk about another in order to acheive a higher band response. Also, if I was to do so, how would I structure it out?
Thanks :)
Hey, alyssastrebel!
I didn't do Ancient but since the question is asking for at least TWO Greek leaders, and not only TWO Greek leaders, I'd imagine that as long as you have the "at least", you can have as many leader case study examples as you wish :) Having two or three does not guarantee a higher band response. If having two is enough for you to present a sophisticated and well-executed argument for your essay, then do two. If having three will give you more room for discussion and present an equally sophisticated and well-executed argument, then do three. It's definitely more about what you write about, as opposed to how much you write.
As for structure, I'd assume you would have each leader as one of your bodies and integrate historical evidence throughout the essay. Two bodies for two leaders, three bodies for three :D Would be good if someone who did Ancient can confirm my answers ;D Hope that helps!
Angelina ;D
Hi Atar notes.
When you have a question for example:
"Assess the contribution of at least TWO Greek Leaders to the Greek Victory in the Persian wars."
Would you only talk about two leaders or talk about another in order to acheive a higher band response. Also, if I was to do so, how would I structure it out?
Thanks :)
G'day everyone!
Obviously enjoying some Ancient as I type this! I just wanted to say, I'm a huge bookworm. On that note, I'm looking for a few books that I can get for each Ancient topic I'm doing. Does anyone have any good recommendations that are related to the new syllabus? (Bloody NESA) My topics are:
- SPARTA!!!!
- Fall of the Roman Republic (I've got Scullard and Shotter if that's enough)
- Julius Caesar (I have a fair few on him like Freedman, Goldsworthy, Suetonius and Plutarch but are there any other good books on him?)
- Cities of Vesuvius (I've got Bradley's textbook but she's not a historian)
Thank y'all ;)
Anyone know any good podcasts for Sparta, Fall of the Roman Republic, Julius Caesar or Cities of Vesuvius?
Cheers, Jack
Hi Atar Notes,
Need some help with structuring a response to a question on Xerxes.
To what extent was Xerxes a successful ruler? -20 marks
Also wondering which dot points in the syllabus would be best to focus on.
thanks :)
does anybody know why the ephorates were aged 30?
does anybody know why the ephorates were aged 30?
i mean had to be?
Mod edit: Merged posts :)
The ephors didn't have to be 30, they just had to be at least 30 years of age or over.
I don't think there are any sources (that I know of) which precisely states the reason behind the age restriction, however the ephors were among the most powerful men in Ancient Sparta. They 'had control over the kings' (Herodotus), enjoyed 'supreme auhority' (Aristotle), and 'swore on behalf of the city' (Xenophon), so it would make sense for the Spartans to impose some form of criteria, in particular regarding age as it would be unwise to appoint someone with little to no political experience. Hope that helps!
By the way, might want to just modify your original post next time intead of making a new post. :)
Thanks and ps how do I modify?You need to press the modify button up near quote on your post. :)
is this referring to ekklesia as the elders? : According to Plato, its combination with the kings’ arrogant rule, and the right to an equal vote on the most important matters, produced security and at the same time sound sense... by placing the office of the Elders in the middle as a kind of ballast, and thus striking a balance, it found the safest arrangement and organisation, with the twenty-eight Elders always siding with the kings when it was a matter of resisting democracy, yet in turn reinforcing the people against the development of tyranny.” (Plutarch, Life of Lycurgus, 5)
Hey Guys! I needed a specific quote realting to what my teacher means here for governmental roles in sparta: You could also explain the impact of the gerousia having old men only- there is quote that detailed that age can effect the body AND the mind- not always good.Hey,
But i can't find it? If someone knows what quote this refers to please do not hesitate to quote my back with the quote:)
thanks,
Kombmail
Hey,
I found the quote!! Aristotle says that “the mind, like the body, is subject to old age”.
Hope this helps!! :)
Hey,
I found the quote!! Aristotle says that “the mind, like the body, is subject to old age”.
Hope this helps!! :)
Quick question but how would I decode this quote in reference to gerousia ?The gerousia were elected for life and Aristotle doubts whether they should be (elected for life/while they are really old) as they determine important judicial trials and legislation. He beleives that their mind and ability to determine trials/laws can deteriorate as they age and may not be as strong as when they were first elected.
The gerousia were elected for life and Aristotle doubts whether they should be (elected for life/while they are really old) as they determine important judicial trials and legislation. He beleives that their mind and ability to determine trials/laws can deteriorate as they age and may not be as strong as when they were first elected.Yes it did! if someone could give feedback on this please do not hesitate. Its for a 7 minute speech.
Hope this helps!! :)
Hello,Hey,
Does anyone have a generic plan for the Mithridatic/Parthian Wars dot-point on the Fall of the Roman Republic section?
Thanks a lot! :D
Guys how many significant sites should you revise for Sparta to the battle of leuctra?Hey,
Guys who have done the Persian wars 500-440 BC how did you revise for events but at the same time keep in mind greek victory and Persian imperialism? any tips? :'(
Hey!!Hey,
Am new here so I'm still trying to figure out how to navigate these forums haha..
But I just wanted to ask if there is any resource or any place online where someone has compiled or made-up practice HSC questions for the new Ancient History syllabus? I know that some questions from the old papers are still relevant but I'm not sure how to know which ones? I start year 12 in a few days so I want to try to start early if I can.
Also, if there are can I post my answers to questions here and maybe someone will reply to give feedback? I'm not really sure how that works?
Thanks for any help!
Hey,
So I noticed that the syllabus only asks for sources specifically for the Core Study but not for the Option topics. Does this mean we don't necessarily need sources for the Option topic?
Thanks ;)