Topic 5: Material culture

In this topic students explore material culture in the ancient world. Studies may focus on a particular civilisation or a specific aspect of material culture across civilisations.

Students develop an understanding of the terms and concepts involved in the study of material culture, and their correct use. They analyse and comment on technique, layout, subject matter, and the use of materials, and explore their significance. The study may include, for example:

• public, religious, or private architecture
• advances in technologies and public infrastructure
• sculpture, such as free-standing figures, portraits, or narrative reliefs
• propaganda
• painting styles
• jewellery
• pottery
• gardens
• house decoration, including wall-painting and mosaic styles.

Students learn to distinguish between the works of different periods and between the works of individual potters, painters, sculptors, and/or architects. They consider developments in technologies, art, and architecture and develop an appreciation of change and continuity. Studies could include problems of authenticity, including the identification and origin of artefacts. Students explore how evidence about the material culture of ancient societies has been variously lost, destroyed, and rediscovered. They interpret and analyse the nature of ancient sites and/or artefacts, including their condition and threats to conservation and preservation, such as tourism, terrorism, and pillaging.