Oxford Cambridge and RSA
GCSE
Ancient History
H407/21: Republic and Empire
*1845497997*
A Level
Monday 2 June 2025 – Afternoon
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must
be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer four questions in total:
Section A: Answer Question 1 or Question 2 and answer Question 3.
Section B: Answer Question 4 and answer Question 5 or Question 6.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 98.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2025 [603/0805/9] DC (WW) 353009/2
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
Section A: The Julio-Claudian Emperors, 31 BC–AD 68
Answer Question 1 or Question 2 and answer Question 3.
Answer either Question 1 or Question 2.
1* To what extent did the reign of Tiberius set a pattern for the future direction of the
principate?
, 2
You must use and analyse the ancient sources you have studied as well as your own
knowledge to support your answer. [30]
2* ‘The imperial women had very little influence during this period.’
How far do the sources support this view?
You must use and analyse the ancient sources you have studied as well as your own
knowledge to support your answer. [30]
Answer Question 3.
3 Read the interpretation below.
The people most bitter about imperial rule were the aristocrats, who had lost the political
power that had always belonged to their ancestors. The average Roman had never held
more than a token share of this power and could not, therefore, grieve too deeply when
the monarchy of the emperor replaced the aristocracy of the Senate. In fact, many
Romans welcomed this new system of government because it brought peace, stability,
and therefore prosperity. In the republican period, the fate of the common man was
frequently dependent on magistrates who changed every year and who were willing to
sacrifice the welfare of other people to achieve their own political and financial 5
ambitions. In the imperial period, affairs of state were conducted by bureaucrats, not
politicians; by men who had served in one office for a long time and who had no illusions
of securing for themselves supreme control over the Roman world.
J-A Shelton, As the Romans Did (adapted) 10
How convincing do you find Shelton’s interpretation that the majority benefitted from
the Julio-Claudian system of government because it brought ‘peace, stability, and
therefore prosperity’?
You must use your knowledge of the historical period and the ancient sources you have
studied
to analyse and evaluate Shelton’s interpretation. [20] Section B: The Breakdown of
the Late Republic, 88–31 BC
Answer Question 4 and answer Question 5 or Question 6.
Answer Question 4.
4 Read the passage below.
“We call gods and men to witness, general, that we have taken up arms, not 5
against our fatherland nor to bring danger upon others, but to protect ourselves from
wrong; for we are wretched and destitute, many of us have been driven from our
country by the violence and cruelty of the moneylenders, while all have lost repute
and fortune. None of us has been allowed, in accordance with the usage of our
forefathers, to enjoy the protection of the law and retain our personal liberty after 10
being stripped of our possessions, such was the inhumanity of the moneylenders
and the praetor. Your forefathers often took pity on the common people of Rome and
relieved their distress by decrees, and not long ago, within our own memory,
because of the great amount of their debt, silver was paid in copper with the general
consent of the nobles. Often the commons themselves, either motivated by a desire 15
© OCR 2025 H407/21 Jun25
, 3
for political power or incensed at the arrogance of the magistrates, have taken up
arms and seceded from the patricians. But we ask neither for power nor for riches,
the usual causes of war and quarrels among human beings, but only for freedom,
which no true man gives up except with his life. We implore you and the Senate to
rescue your unhappy fellow citizens, to restore the legal protection, of which the
praetor’s injustice has deprived us, and not force us to ask how we may sell our
lives most dearly.”
Sallust, The Catiline Conspiracy
How useful is this passage for our understanding of the motivation of the Catilinarian
conspirators?
Answer either Question 5 or Question 6.
5* ‘Politicians only gained success because of the threat of military action.’
How far do the sources support this view of political activity during this period?
You must use and analyse the ancient sources you have studied as well as your own
knowledge to support your answer. [36]
6* How far were the failings of the constitution responsible for the breakdown of the Republic?
You must use and analyse the ancient sources you have studied as well as your own
knowledge of this period to support your answer. [36]
END OF QUESTION PAPER
.
© OCR 2025 H407/21 Jun25
, GCE
Ancient History
H407/21: Republic and Empire
A Level
Mark Scheme for June 2025
Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations
OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA) is a leading UK awarding body, providing a wide range of
qualifications to meet the needs of candidates of all ages and abilities. OCR qualifications
GCSE
Ancient History
H407/21: Republic and Empire
*1845497997*
A Level
Monday 2 June 2025 – Afternoon
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must
be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer four questions in total:
Section A: Answer Question 1 or Question 2 and answer Question 3.
Section B: Answer Question 4 and answer Question 5 or Question 6.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 98.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2025 [603/0805/9] DC (WW) 353009/2
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
Section A: The Julio-Claudian Emperors, 31 BC–AD 68
Answer Question 1 or Question 2 and answer Question 3.
Answer either Question 1 or Question 2.
1* To what extent did the reign of Tiberius set a pattern for the future direction of the
principate?
, 2
You must use and analyse the ancient sources you have studied as well as your own
knowledge to support your answer. [30]
2* ‘The imperial women had very little influence during this period.’
How far do the sources support this view?
You must use and analyse the ancient sources you have studied as well as your own
knowledge to support your answer. [30]
Answer Question 3.
3 Read the interpretation below.
The people most bitter about imperial rule were the aristocrats, who had lost the political
power that had always belonged to their ancestors. The average Roman had never held
more than a token share of this power and could not, therefore, grieve too deeply when
the monarchy of the emperor replaced the aristocracy of the Senate. In fact, many
Romans welcomed this new system of government because it brought peace, stability,
and therefore prosperity. In the republican period, the fate of the common man was
frequently dependent on magistrates who changed every year and who were willing to
sacrifice the welfare of other people to achieve their own political and financial 5
ambitions. In the imperial period, affairs of state were conducted by bureaucrats, not
politicians; by men who had served in one office for a long time and who had no illusions
of securing for themselves supreme control over the Roman world.
J-A Shelton, As the Romans Did (adapted) 10
How convincing do you find Shelton’s interpretation that the majority benefitted from
the Julio-Claudian system of government because it brought ‘peace, stability, and
therefore prosperity’?
You must use your knowledge of the historical period and the ancient sources you have
studied
to analyse and evaluate Shelton’s interpretation. [20] Section B: The Breakdown of
the Late Republic, 88–31 BC
Answer Question 4 and answer Question 5 or Question 6.
Answer Question 4.
4 Read the passage below.
“We call gods and men to witness, general, that we have taken up arms, not 5
against our fatherland nor to bring danger upon others, but to protect ourselves from
wrong; for we are wretched and destitute, many of us have been driven from our
country by the violence and cruelty of the moneylenders, while all have lost repute
and fortune. None of us has been allowed, in accordance with the usage of our
forefathers, to enjoy the protection of the law and retain our personal liberty after 10
being stripped of our possessions, such was the inhumanity of the moneylenders
and the praetor. Your forefathers often took pity on the common people of Rome and
relieved their distress by decrees, and not long ago, within our own memory,
because of the great amount of their debt, silver was paid in copper with the general
consent of the nobles. Often the commons themselves, either motivated by a desire 15
© OCR 2025 H407/21 Jun25
, 3
for political power or incensed at the arrogance of the magistrates, have taken up
arms and seceded from the patricians. But we ask neither for power nor for riches,
the usual causes of war and quarrels among human beings, but only for freedom,
which no true man gives up except with his life. We implore you and the Senate to
rescue your unhappy fellow citizens, to restore the legal protection, of which the
praetor’s injustice has deprived us, and not force us to ask how we may sell our
lives most dearly.”
Sallust, The Catiline Conspiracy
How useful is this passage for our understanding of the motivation of the Catilinarian
conspirators?
Answer either Question 5 or Question 6.
5* ‘Politicians only gained success because of the threat of military action.’
How far do the sources support this view of political activity during this period?
You must use and analyse the ancient sources you have studied as well as your own
knowledge to support your answer. [36]
6* How far were the failings of the constitution responsible for the breakdown of the Republic?
You must use and analyse the ancient sources you have studied as well as your own
knowledge of this period to support your answer. [36]
END OF QUESTION PAPER
.
© OCR 2025 H407/21 Jun25
, GCE
Ancient History
H407/21: Republic and Empire
A Level
Mark Scheme for June 2025
Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations
OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA) is a leading UK awarding body, providing a wide range of
qualifications to meet the needs of candidates of all ages and abilities. OCR qualifications
