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The Board of Studies has made all reasonable efforts to locate owners of third-party copyrighted material and invites anyone from whom permission has not been sought to contact the Copyright Officer, ph fax. This document has been created for the teachers and candidates of the Stage 6 course in Ancient History. It provides commentary relating to answers to the 2001 Higher School Certificate examination, indicating the quality of candidate answers and highlighting the relative strengths and weaknesses of the candidacy in each section and each question.
In part (a) of the questions, the better prepared candidates were able to provide concise descriptions when necessary. Candidates who provided extensive and detailed information may have had less time to spend on the other parts of the question.
Personalities in Their Times
Many candidates showed limited knowledge of Ramses' family and dynastic background, and even fewer candidates were able to cite relevant evidence. Some of the superior answers discussed in detail his early military and building activities under Seti I, evidence for alleged co-ruling, and emphasized the military and religious preoccupations of the early Ramessidis. These candidates demonstrated detailed knowledge of specific activities/policies including construction/religion and were able to consider different interpretations of Ramses' success.
Part (a) was well attempted by all candidates, while part (b) indicated a good knowledge of the worship of gods and goddesses, reinforced by references to relevant sources. Part (b) was challenging for many candidates and the role of the strategos proved difficult to explain. In part (c) candidates wrote long answers, but some candidates could only provide a narrative with few attempts at assessment.
It was not necessary to include an account of the deteriorating relationship between Nero and his mother. Better candidates went beyond description to assess the power and influence in the context of the Julio-Claudian family and the role of imperial women, making a clear assessment of performance in comparison to other members of the family.
Ancient Societies
Better candidates could refer to the king and his role, the work of the nobility and bureaucracy, the heads of the army, the religious staff and the role of the Assyrian peasants. e). They could also discuss the role of the king, his power and the limits of his power. The discussion centered on an explanation of the roles of Jezebel and Ahab rather than the entire period.
Better candidates were able to comment on essential elements of the monetary system, including coinage, weights and measures, and taxation. Most of the candidates were aware of the Persian policy of tolerance towards the subject peoples on the religious issue. The better candidates showed a good understanding of the nature and roles played by the helotic class in part (c) and also the educational system in part (d).
Few candidates tried this option and many of them seemed to have studied one of the other options. The best answers specifically addressed each part of the question and showed in-depth knowledge of this option.
Historical Periods
Better Answers provided an analytical discussion of both the advantages and disadvantages to Egypt of the Hyksos occupation for the reign. Better answers were able to assess Thutmose's military achievements, including Megiddo and beyond, his building programs, his expansion of trade, and his enrichment of the cult of Amun. They could explain in detail the significance of most of the major construction projects.
Some students tried to explain the importance of the reforms, but were limited in the detail they could provide. a). Most candidates demonstrated a good understanding of the change and continuity that occurred during this period. Weaker candidates gave a simple narrative of the events without any real explanation of the methods.
Better candidates were able to study the rise and fall of the triumvirate. The best answers to this question (about "establishing and maintaining" the authority of Augustus) were able to provide balanced answers to both parts of the question.
Additional Historical Period or Additional Ancient Society
Accurately explains the importance of Nubia to the New Kingdom of Egypt during this period and demonstrates an understanding of contributing factors and the relationship between them. Provides an accurate explanation of the relationship between Assyria and its subject states, demonstrating an understanding of contributing factors and the relationship between them. Provides an accurate explanation of the importance of the Babylonian campaigns against Judah, demonstrating an understanding of contributing factors and the relationship between them.
Provides a precise explanation of the causes of the First Peloponnesian War by demonstrating an understanding of the contributing factors and the relationships between them. Provides a precise explanation of the causes and consequences of Social War by demonstrating an understanding of the contributing factors and the relationships between them. Provides a precise and detailed explanation of the social structure of Middle Kingdom Egypt by demonstrating an understanding of a number of contributing factors and the relationships between them.
Provides an accurate explanation of the social structure of Middle Kingdom Egypt and shows and understands contributing factors and the relationship between them. Accurately explains the role of the military in the Ramesside period and demonstrates and understands the contributing factors and the relationship between them. Provides an accurate and detailed explanation of the key features of ancient Assyrian economics and demonstrates an understanding of a range of contributing factors and the relationship between them.
Provides an accurate explanation of the main features of the ancient Assyrian economy and shows and understands contributing factors and the relationship between them. Provides an accurate explanation of the importance of women in Minoan society by demonstrating and understanding the contributing factors and the relationship between them. Provides some explanation of the importance of women in Minoan society and shows insight into some of the contributing factors and the relationship between them.
It provides a precise and detailed explanation of the main features of the Spartan economy, showing an understanding of the range of contributing factors and the relationship between them. It provides a detailed explanation of the main features of the Spartan economy, showing and understanding the contributing factors and the relationship between them. It provides some explanation of the main features of the Spartan economy, showing an understanding of some of the contributing factors and the relationship between them.
Provides a precise explanation of the importance of shipping and trade in this period by demonstrating and understanding the contributing factors and the relationships between them. Provides a precise and detailed explanation of the main features of Roman trade in this period, demonstrating an understanding of a number of contributing factors and the relationships between them. Provides a precise explanation of the main features of Roman trade in this period by demonstrating and understanding the contributing factors and the relationships between them.
Provides some explanation of the main features of Roman trade during this period and demonstrates an understanding of some of the contributing factors and the relationship between them.
