A course for elective study may be developed from both topics, provided that students complete at least 50% of their study from Topic 2: The Modern World. The entire course may be developed from Topic 2.

Courses must be designed so that they do not overlap significantly with areas of study from History (Mandatory) or with topics that students will study in Stage 6 Ancient History and Modern History.

Where students undertake 100 or more hours of elective History in Stage 5, they will receive a School Certificate grade for History (Elective) as well as a grade for History (Mandatory).

Topics – History (Elective) Stages 4–5

Principal Focus

Aspects of world history including the contribution of past societies to our understanding of the present and the nature of significant issues in the modern world.

Focus Issues

1. How did people in past societies and periods live?
2. In what ways does the study of past societies and periods contribute to our understanding of the present?
3. What have been the origins and nature of some of the significant issues in the modern world?
4. How have significant issues influenced the modern world?

Topic 1: Pre-modern Societies

Up to 50% of the course may be developed from the following:

Topics	Areas of Study	Inquiry Questions
a) Early Societies	Archaeology of early societies Near East Egypt Mesopotamia Aegean
b) Ancient Societies	Archaeology of ancient societies Celts Mesopotamia Near East Egypt Greece The Roman Empire Beyond the Roman Empire	Appropriate inquiry questions should be developed by teachers to define the scope of teaching and learning for each topic.
c) Medieval and Early Modern Societies	Medieval England Tudor and Stuart England Europe from around 1500 to 1815 Religion in medieval Europe Medieval and early modern Russia to 1901 The Ottoman Empire from the sixteenth to the mid-nineteenth century
d) Asian, American and African Societies	India China Japan North America Central America South America Africa

Topic 2: Modern World

At least 50% of the course must be developed from the following:

Topics	Areas of Study	Inquiry Questions
The Modern World For each topic developed from an area of study, students must study the area of study’s application in at least two nations. At least one nation must be from the regions of Europe, North America, South America or Central America AND at least one nation from the regions of Middle East, Africa, Asia or the Pacific. The time would not be before 1750.	Art, literature and popular culture Civil rights Crime, law and punishment Economic and military alliances, organisations and associations Gender relations Genocide Heritage and environmental issues History and philosophy of science Ideologies, belief systems and philosophies Imperialism, colonialism and independence Intelligence and security organisations International organisations and peace-keeping Leadership, politics and political institutions Living and working conditions Medicine, health and hygiene Racism Revolution and evolution Slavery Sport, music and entertainment Technology, economic development and industralisation Terrorism Trade and commerce Transport and communication Urban and industrial archaeology War and peace	Appropriate inquiry questions should be developed by teachers to define the scope of teaching and learning for each topic.