The Ancient History General course enables students to study life in early civilisations, based on the interpretation of the physical and written remains of different ancient societies. The study of ancient civilisations illustrates the development of distinctive features of contemporary societies; for example, social organisation and religion. The course also explores the possible motivations and actions of individuals, and how they shaped the political, social and cultural landscapes of the ancient world. Students are introduced to the process of reconstructing the past using often fragmentary evidence from a range of written and archaeological sources, and the skills associated with the analysis of historical sources.