Digital Classroom | National Library of Australia (NLA)

Digital Classroom

Explore Australia's history at the National Library's Digital Classroom, aligned with the Australian Curriculum. With over 10 million items, we support diverse learning styles, fostering inquiry-based learning for students to analyse sources and draw conclusions about the Australian story.
Showing 1 - 12 of 15 results
Angkor Wat, perron of main temple and sculptures

Yves Coffin, [Angkor Wat, perron of main temple and sculptures], nla.gov.au/nla.obj-140376052

Building Angkor

Topic

The Khmer kings were prolific builders.

Humanities
Year 8
Asia-Pacific
World cultures and history
A watercolour drawing of two canoes and two types of oars/paddles

Choris, Louis, 1795-1828. Voyage pittoresque autour du monde & Choris, Louis, 1795-1828. (1822). [Canoes, and a club from Easter Island], nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136165362

Expansion across the Polynesian Triangle

Topic

When European explorers began to enter the Pacific they were astounded by its vast extent and fact that most of the islands were already inhabited.

Humanities
Year 8
Asia-Pacific
World cultures and history
print of samurai archer in blue and red outfit

Toshikata Mizuno, Eishi sassō Hakubunkan, Tōkyō, 1899, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-152419290

Japan and the West

Topic

The arrival of the Portuguese on Japanese shores in 1543 marked the beginning of Japan’s first interactions with the West.

Humanities
Year 8
Asia-Pacific
The Japanese print shows the major members of the Satsuma Rebellion, surrounding Takamori Saigo, the leading figure; the text at the back of each image explains more details about each figure.

Yoshitoshi Taiso & 大蘇芳年, Kagoshima bōto shōzō ryakuden Morimoto Junzaburō, Tōkyō, 1877, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-152241305

Japan under the Shoguns (794-1867)

Module

Examine Japan under the Shoguns (794-1867), focusing on the feudal system and its societal impacts.

Humanities
Year 8
Asia-Pacific
Woodblock print showing 5 men. Three men are kneeling before one seated man holding a sign, Tokugawa Mitsukuni. Behind the seated man crouches an advisor.

Toshitsune Inano, Tokugawa Mitsukuni [Tokyo], 1880, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-152444502

Life under the Shoguns

Topic

Explore the intricate social hierarchy of feudal Japan during the shogunate era, characterised by distinct classes and roles.

Humanities
Year 8
Asia-Pacific
A colourful watercolour showing the mountainous coastline of Tahiti. The mountains are shades of grey, blue and purple. The sky has billowing clouds.The shore is dotted with vegetation. In the foreground, two figures row a long canoe along the coast. The canoe is carrying something, although it's unclear what it is.

Nicholas Chevalier, (1868), Otaheite [i.e. Tahiti], nla.gov.au/nla.obj-134623111

Polynesian expansion across the Pacific (c.700-1756)

Module

This resource is aligned to the Australian Curriculum: History for Year 8 students. It adopts an inquiry learning approach that develops students’ skills in investigating Asia-Pacific societies in depth.

Humanities
Year 8
Asia-Pacific
World cultures and history
A colourful woodblock print showing a warrior gripping a spear in battle. He wears a detailed robe with bold patterns, including phoenix designs. Arrows are embedded around him, and swords are visible at the bottom of the image.

Kuniyoshi Utagawa & 歌川国芳, Honchō Suikoden gōyū happyakunin no hitori : Eda Genzō Hirotsuna [Kagaya Kichibei], 1830, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-151535028

Pre-Shogunate Japan

Topic

Take your students on a journey through Japan’s early political and cultural development, leading up to the rise of the shogunate.

Humanities
Year 8
Asia-Pacific
Two men are gathered under the shelter of a thatched roof structure. On top of the structure, offerings of meat and fish are strewn. In the foreground there are twelve signs or totems sticking out of the ground. To the left of the structure is a larger thatched roofed hut. The compound is surrounded by vegetation

John Williams & John Webber & James Cook, A human sacrifice in a morai in Otaheite, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136423378

Religious and social significance of marae in Polynesian chiefdoms

Topic

Many European explorers, sailing across the eastern Pacific islands from the eighteenth century onwards, reported with astonishment their visits at religious sites, the impressive carved statues and the complex ceremonies they witnessed.

Humanities
Year 8
Asia-Pacific
World cultures and history
Angkor Wat, view of main temple from western side

Yves Coffin, [Angkor Wat, view of main temple from western side], nla.gov.au/nla.obj-140376204

The Angkor/Khmer Empire (802–1431)

Module

This resource is aligned to the Australian Curriculum: History for Year 8 students. It adopts an inquiry learning approach that develops students’ skills in investigating Asia-Pacific societies in depth.

Humanities
Year 8
Asia-Pacific
World cultures and history
Wat Ek, comprehensive view, southern side

Yves Coffin, [Wat Ek, comprehensive view, southern side], nla.gov.au/nla.obj-140371255

The decline of the Khmer Empire

Topic

The Khmer Empire flourished on the rich and fertile mountains, lakes, and plains of Cambodia for 629 years.

Humanities
Year 8
Asia-Pacific
World cultures and history
The Japanese print set depicts the ceremonial scene of marriage of very high class couple, possibly the emperor and his would be wife; various traditionally Japanese customs can be observed, and at the same time, Western influences in clothing and decorations are also eminent.

Nobukazu Yōsai & 楊斎延一, Kōi konreishiki no zu Hasegawa Tsunejirō, Tōkyō, 1900, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-151494111

The final act and the restoration

Topic

Dive into the transformative period of Japan's history as it transitioned from feudal isolation to modernisation with the decline of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the Meiji Restoration.

Humanities
Year 8
Asia-Pacific
A colourful watercolour showing the coast and mountains of Tahiti. The whole scene is rendered in pastel pinks, greens and blues. In the foreground a grassy shoreline is dotted with palm trees. a bay or inlet seperates the island with the jagged mountains int he background. water craft are dispersed around the water.

Charles Hamilton Smith & Robert Elwes, Sketcher's tour round the world. Parana in the island of Tahiti, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136489091

The first Polynesians and their environments: Adaptability, innovations and horticulture

Topic

Looking at Polynesia on a world map can be deceiving, as the vast majority of the Polynesian islands appear as near-identical green specks scattered across vast oceanic areas.

Humanities
Year 8
Asia-Pacific
World cultures and history

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