The aim of the Year 10 Chinese History course is to introduce students to VCE style assessments through exploration of the creation and formation of the modern Chinese nation. It seeks to provide a deeper understanding of Chinese culture, society, and history and to arm students with the ability to identify and deal with the contemporary regional and global implications of a resurgent and powerful China.
Students investigate in depth the foundations and features of the last Qing empire and the significant global changes they brought to the wider world in the early modern period. Empires at their core were expansionist, dominating trade and political influence in their regional or global contexts. A range of key factors arising from the social, political, economic, cultural, religious, environmental and technological features played a role in the ambition and quest for power, prestige and influence over rival and competing states.
In this depth study students focus on the features of empires and what contributed to their rise. They analyse how the social, political, economic, cultural, religious, environmental and technological features and conditions shaped the Qing Dynasty quest for expansion.
Students also focus on the challenges and changes facing the empire. Students explain how and why new markets were established, and describe the Qing Dynasty's global power and why their influence prospered. They analyse the empire’s social, political, economic and cultural structures of power and how it was used to maintain control. Students evaluate the consequences of empire expansion.
New systems of trade emerged between the empire and its colonies. Technological advancements, and improvements in transportation and manufacturing industries accelerated economic growth and imperial interaction. Empires sought to extract the most value from their territories through the lucrative transatlantic exchange markets, regardless of the human and environmental cost.
The Qing Dynasty's contact and interactions with other peoples and new visitors varied from mutual trade to conflict.
The Qing Dynasty powers faced mounting difficulties in maintaining control over their colonies and territories. At times, imperial laws, structures and institutions negatively affected the daily life and livelihoods of individuals, causing dissent and mistrust. New traders clashed with imperial authorities, who quashed dissent and enforced obedience and compliance. These challenges determined the success and/or failure of the empire.
Political and economic competition between empires caused global tensions. The Qing Dynasty struggled to maintain military protection and ultimately fell.
This unit examines the life of the last Manchu emperor, Henry Pu Yi. Students will be asked to consider whether or not the course of Pu Yi’s life personifies the course of Chinese history. The major source for this unit is feature film The Last Emperor.
This unit examines the new political structure and its polarisation. The major assessment task is centred on the Nationalist and Communist dichotomy and asks students to examine the nature and use of propaganda posters to spread the opposing messages of Chiang Kaishek and SunYatsen.
This unit explores the role of Mao Tse Tung and the Chinese Communist Party in reunifying China, beginning with the Long March. Students analyse primary and secondary documents and visual materials and make an assessment on the success or failure of the march and the reasons for ultimate success in the Civil War.
This unit explores the new society created by Mao and the characteristics of the first decade of communist rule in China. The unit will also use this analysis to examine the ideological and political origins of the Cultural Revolution. Students will use both primary and secondary sources.
Students are required to demonstrate four outcomes over the course of the entire Semester.
While the subject is aimed at Year 10 level, tasks for VCE assessment style in these units may be selected from the following:
a historical inquiry
an essay
evaluation of historical sources
short-answer questions
extended responses