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Please note
This unit is currently being updated for Summer 2026. There are no changes to the Progression of knowledge, skills and key vocabulary documents.
The Archived unit: The Sikh Empire is no longer being updated.
Unit overview: What was the Sikh Empire?
Unit outcomes
Pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Explain terms such as unification and absolute power.
- Identify the skills and behaviours of leaders that contributed to achieving a goal.
- Describe and assess the impact of beliefs on change.
- Identify the significance of a place.
- Make deductions and inferences from sources.
- Apply criteria to decide and explain historical significance.
- Describe how and why interpretations are different.
- Make observations and explain historical achievements.
This unit prepares the children for the challenges of Key stage 3 History.
Suggested prior learning
What was the impact of World War 2 on the people of Britain?
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Lessons
Lesson 1: How did the Sikh Empire begin?
Lesson 2: How do Sikh beliefs impact society?
Lesson 3: What made Lahore important to the Sikh Empire?
Lesson 4: Why is Ranjit Singh historically significant?
Lesson 5: How do different interpretations shape our understanding of the Sikh Empire?
Lesson 6: How do the achievements of Sophia Duleep Singh compare to Ranjit Singh?
Key skills
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Key knowledge
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Key vocabulary
alliance
bias
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Unit resources
Knowledge organiser – History Y6: What was the Sikh Empire?
Aimed at pupils, two pages providing key facts and definitions from the unit 'What was the Sikh Empire?'.
Vocabulary display – History Y6: What was the Sikh Empire?
A display version of the key vocabulary from the 'What was the Sikh Empire?' unit.
Subject resources
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Cross-curricular opportunities
English: Reading comprehension, Spoken language.
British values: Mutual respect, Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
Religious Education
Geography: Human geography.
Build on the learning
Unheard histories: Who should go on the £10 banknote?
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