Ramses learning journey: The Representation of the Ancient Past and the Role of Museums

An Acknowledgement of Country is a statement that pays respect to the Traditional Custodians of the Country that you are learning or meeting on and recognises their ongoing relationship with Country. The Australian Museum respects and acknowledges the Gadigal people as the Custodians of the land on which the Museum stands.

Which First Nations Country or Nation was your school built upon? If you are unsure contact a local First Nations organisation to find out. You might like to start with the NSW Aboriginal Land Council and the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group.

Ask your students to write an Acknowledgement of Country for your school. To get them started, read more about why an Acknowledgement of Country is important and how to write one in this ABC article.

An exploration of Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs will provide you with an insightful understanding of how the ancient past is represented and the role of museums and cultural heritage in society. Throughout your visit you will be able to see a range of ancient sources that explore the life and times of Ramses II and the museum's role in telling his story. Before your visit, this learning journey and your booklet will take you through many parts of the syllabus and provide you with the opportunity to engage more effectively with the exhibition.

Museums play a critical role in the representation of the past. They safeguard and interpret culturally significant objects for the benefit and education of the public.

Imagine that you are responsible for designing a small museum exhibition of your life.

1. Much like movies and novels, exhibitions are designed to tell a story. Write a short statement on the story the exhibition is intending to tell.

2. Museums use artefacts in historical and cultural exhibitions to tell stories. Choose five objects that tell a story of your life and can be stored in a museum.

3. Objects are accompanied by text labels that interpret them for the public. Write a 50-word label for each object that briefly describes it in the context of your exhibition.

4. Sketch what your museum exhibition may look like. Think about the shape of the gallery and the positioning of the objects and labels.

Share your exhibition designs with your peers.

Learning Intention

- communicate historical understanding in appropriate and well-structured forms

- effectively research a range of historical features, individuals and events

- describe continuity and change

Success Criteria

- There is a clear summary of how museums have developed over time

- there are three clear points in your response that trace the development of the Australian Museum

The function of museums has changed since their origins, transforming into the crucial cultural institutions that we have today. It is important to understand what aspects of museums have changed, and what has remained the same.

Complete the 'Brief history of museums' activity on page one and the research task on page two, using the success criteria to reflect on your response or a peer's response.

Learning Intention

- analyse and interpret a range of sources to support an argument

- effectively research a range of historical features, individuals and events

- discuss how history is constructed

Success Criteria

- insightful statements that discuss how museums represent the ancient past

- clear examples from a range of sources including 200 Treasures of the Australian Museum and the ICOM museum definition that highlight the representation of the past and the construction of history in museums

- discussion of Australia's colonial context in relation to the role of museums

When considering the representation of the past, it is important to understand that representations can change, are reliant on context and should be critically analysed. Museums construct history through a range of storytelling devices, interpreting and delivering information to the public. While museums are considered trusted cultural institutions, this does not always mean that they are objective.

Complete the 'Representation of the past in museums' activity on page two and the 'Contribution of museums to our understanding of the past' on pages three and four.

Use the success criteria to assess your response and comment on how well you have addressed the learning intention and success criteria.

Learning Intention

- effectively research a range of historical features, individuals and events

- analyse and interpret a range of sources to support an argument

Success Criteria

- research includes specific information on the importance of the Parthenon Marbles as cultural property

- responses discuss repatriation as an important aspect of museum policy

- understanding of repatriation and cultural property is used to construct a compelling argument for the return of a First Nations artefact

While the legal meaning of cultural property differs from country to country, UNESCO defines it as property that is designated by the state as being of importance for archaeology, prehistory, history, literature, art or science. Museums are custodians of cultural property, however, as colonial institutions, much of the cultural property they hold belongs to other societies. It is important to understand the relationship between cultural property, museums and colonialism.

Complete the 'Cultural Property in Museums' research task on page four and the 'Repatriation of Cultural Property' task on pages five and six.

Self-assess your written response by using the success criteria.

Learning Intention

- analyse and interpret a range of sources to support an argument

- discuss and evaluate differing interpretations and representations of the past

Success Criteria

- discussions demonstrate insight into the effectiveness of virtual museums

- written response includes a range of multimedia examples and an assessment of their impact

Today museums use a wide range of media including digital technologies in their exhibitions. The use of multimedia has allowed for museums to be more inclusive, engaging and accessible. As museums integrate emerging digital technologies such as virtual reality into their displays, they find new and exciting ways to represent the past.

Explore one virtual exhibition on the Australian Museum website and discuss the effectiveness of digital technology in museums.

Complete the 'Multimedia in museums' activity on page seven.

Provide yourself with one tick for each type of multimedia found in source C and ask a peer to provide feedback on your assessment of impact.

Learning Intention

- communicate historical understanding in appropriate and well-structured forms

- effectively research a range of historical features, individuals and events

- evaluate the impact significant individuals, features and events can have on history

Success Criteria

- at least three points from the text are used in the response

- response includes accurate information that is not found within the text

- there is a clear judgement made about Ramses II's title

Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs focuses on the life and times of Ramses II, commonly known as Ramses the Great. Despite his title, multiple perspectives exist in regard to his reign, some of which speak to his many successes, and others to his failures. Before exploring the museum's role in representing Ramses II's past, it is important to have a balanced view.

Complete the 'Introduction to Ramses II' activity on page eight. Ensure you are working towards the success criteria throughout your research and response. Have a peer summarise your judgement of Ramses II's title.

Learning Intention

- analyse and interpret a range of sources to support an argument

- effectively research a range of historical features, individuals and events

Success Criteria

- explicit reference to the required sources

- clear statements on the meaning of pharonic symbols

- insightful judgement on Ramses II's representation of himself

Primary sources such as inscriptions, wall paintings, sculptures and texts are valuable pieces of evidence. However, when constructed by the person they represent, they can become propagandistic. Ramses II is considered an expert in representing his own accomplishments, and the sources from his time must be critically evaluated.

Complete the 'Representation of Ramses II during his time' activity on pages nine and ten. It is important that you explicitly reference the sources and consider any issues of bias and propaganda in your responses.

Ensure you use the learning intentions and success criteria to guide your writing.

Learning Intention

- analyse and interpret a range of sources to support an argument

- discuss and evaluate differing interpretations and representations of the past

- communicate historical understanding in appropriate and well-structured forms

Success Criteria

- the response is clearly influenced by the representations of Ramses II in sources G and H

- the response is engaging and creative

Like all historical figures, the representations of Ramses II have not remained stagnant. As pharaoh, Ramses II would have been beyond reproach in his own context, however, this is no longer the case. Historians over the last two hundred years have come to different conclusion in regard to his career, questioning the validity of his successes, especially in regard to his assumed victory at the Battle of Kadesh. These changing representations of Ramses II have been expressed in multiple ways including film, television, literature and museum exhibitions.

Read the information and consider the sources on page 11 before completing the creative task on page 12.

Have a peer write a short comment on how they think your response has been influenced by changing representations of Ramses II.

Learning Intention

- analyse and interpret a range of sources to support an argument

- discuss and evaluate differing interpretations and representations of the past

- communicate historical understanding in appropriate and well-structured forms

Success Criteria

- response makes clear reference to the sources to justify Egyptomania and the change in Ramses II's representation in museums

- a clear judgement is made in the responses

Museum's exhibit their own representations of history, and as we have already seen, this is influenced by a range factors. The allure of Ancient Egypt has existed for hundreds of years, and museums are one of the most suitable cultural institutions to provide engaging and educational exhibitions that explore Egyptian history. Being one of Egypt's most famous and prolific pharaohs, Ramses II is no stranger to museums, and as exhibitions have developed over time, so has his historical representation.

Complete the 'Representation of Ramses II and Egypt in museums' on pages 13 and 14.

Focus on ensuring that each response includes a judgement within the opening sentences followed by explicit reference to the provided sources.

Learning Intention

- discuss and evaluate differing interpretations and representations of the past

- communicate historical understanding in appropriate and well-structured forms

Success Criteria

- response considers the impact context has on interpretations and representations of the past

Context is a major influence on how the past in represented, and as interpreters of the past, museums are impacted by a variety of factors. This can include sponsorships, contemporary political developments and the relationships museums have. The contextual impact on exhibitions is not always clear, however is important to analyse to best understand the types of narratives a museums attempts to create. Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs is produced in cooperation with Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and is affected by this association.

Complete the 'Context of Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs' activity on page 15.

Your response should make a convincing argument for the representation of Ramses II in the exhibition.

Learning Intention

- analyse and interpret a range of sources to support an argument

- discuss and evaluate differing interpretations and representations of the past

Success Criteria

- response explicitly uses the sources to make judgements about Ramses II's representation

The objects a museum chooses to display and the way in which they are presented impact how the history is represented. These interpretative strategies could include the types of objects that are focused on, whether they be military artefacts such as weapons and shields, or artefacts that focus on everyday life such as clothing and pottery. Significance can be placed on certain objects through their positioning within the exhibition, or what they are surrounded with. A singular object in a room will command more attention than an object that is surrounded by many others. Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs uses a variety of interpretative strategies to represent Ramses II in a particular way.

Complete the 'Ramses II in Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs' activity on page 16.

Ensure you are using the success criteria to include explicit reference to the provided sources to make your judgement.

During your visit to Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs you will be immersed in over 180 objects, models and multimedia experiences that will enrich your understanding of the role museums play in society and how they represent the past.

To make the most of your experience, complete as much of the booklet as you can before you visit, as this will provide the context to link the exhibition to your studies. Have a close read of the exhibition review assessment task, familiarising yourself with the expectations and marking criteria.

When you are at Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs use the 'Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs' Exhibition Review' worksheet to help guide your visit. This will ensure that you record as much relevant information as you can for the completion of your exhibition review.

While you are exploring the exhibition, think about the various strategies the museum has used to represent the life and times of Ramses II and the larger role the Australian Museum is playing in society.

We hope you enjoyed your visit to the Australian Museum and Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs.

Now that you are back in the classroom it is time to link your experience at the exhibition with the preliminary syllabus.

The following activities will help you make the most of your visit to Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs.

Learning Intention

- construct a short story about an object that reveals historical information

Success Criteria

- Using the example of the Gweagal shield, construct your own success criteria that would demonstrate an effective object story

If an object could speak, what kind of story might it tell?

Objects hold multiple stories, whether they be of their creators, those who used them, or the individuals and events they have witnessed. It is a museum's job to allow these stories to be told.

Here is a short example of an object story about the Gweagal Shield, a First Nations shield that may have been taken by Captain Cook in 1770 before being kept at the British Museum.

The shield’s history has been written and rewritten, but as all things in First Nations Australia, its story begins with country, a story of kinship, earth, water, sky and the lives they support. It is commonly accepted that this shield originated from the Gweagal clan of the Dharawal nation, it was here that Gweagal men, painted in sacred white clay would strip bark from the mangroves and stringy bark trees, harden it over open fires and mark it with the same white clay that adorned their bodies to create the shield. It was a symbol of First Nations relationship with country and their desire to defend it, a future it would soon realise when it sat on the arm of a Gweagal warrior, as he stared down Captain James Cook on the 29th of April 1770.

Take particular of note of how the object remains at the center of the writing, allowing it to tell a narrative of its existence.

Choose an object from Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs and write a short story from its perspective.

Before you begin your assessment, it is important that you develop a central thesis for your review. Use the 'Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs Exhibition Review' sheet you filled out during your visit to consider how successfully the exhibition represents the past.

To gain an understanding of the types of writing styles that are used in exhibition review, read 'Caring for Country at the Burra Learning Space' and a range of other reviews in the provided in the notification assessment. Take notes on the structure and type of language that you find most engaging and would like to implement in your own review.

Use the instructions in the assessment notification to begin writing your review.

Once you have completed your assessment, swap your review with a peer and use the marking criteria to provide feedback on each other's writing. It is important to provide meaningful feedback by writing statements that help them improve based on the points within the marking criteria.

Use the following criteria to construct your feedback.

Effective feedback:

- provides a record of what is done well and what needs improvement

- suggested next steps

- is linked to the marking criteria

- is actionable so that revisions can be made

Use the peer feedback to make any necessary revisions to your assessment before submission.