OCR A Level Ancient History H407/12 Athens and the Greek World May 2025
Combined QUESTION PAPER and MARK SCHEME
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Tuesday 20 May 2025 – Morning
A Level Ancient History
H407/12 Athens and the Greek World
Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
*18 45 624 4 48 *
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
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] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (CJ) 354031/4 Turn over
, 2
Section A: Relations between Greek states and between
Greek and non-Greek states, 492– 404 BC
Answer Question 1 or Question 2 and answer Question 3.
Answer either Question 1 or Question 2.
1* ‘The Persians were consistent in their policy and actions towards the Greek states from
492–431 BC.’
To what extent do the sources support this statement?
You must use and analyse the ancient sources you have studied as well as your own knowledge
to support your answer. [30]
2* How far would you agree that the Peace of Nicias of 421 BC was always the most likely outcome
of the first ten years of the Peloponnesian War?
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.
Adapted from Simon Hornblower, The Greek World 479 - 323 B ,p 92, Methuen, 1985. Item removed due to third party copyright restrictions.
How convincing do you find Hornblower’s interpretation of the Megarian decree and the reasons
for the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War?
You must use your knowledge of the historical period and the ancient sources you have studied
to analyse and evaluate Hornblower’s interpretation. [20]
© OCR 2025 H407/12 Jun25
, 3
Section B: The Culture and Politics of Athens, c.460–c.399 BC
Answer Question 4 and answer Question 5 or Question 6.
Answer Question 4.
4 Read the passage below.
© Plutarch; Ian Scott-Kilvert, The Rise and Fall of Athens: Nine Greek Lives, pp 221-222, 1960, Penguin Classics, 1960. From first line " At first the people were delighted and treated the result as a great joke." to last line "a relative of the tyrant Pisistratus, had been the first." Item removed due to third p
How useful is this passage for our understanding of the importance of ostracism and its use
during this period? [12]
© OCR 2025 H407/12 Jun25 Turn over
Combined QUESTION PAPER and MARK SCHEME
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Tuesday 20 May 2025 – Morning
A Level Ancient History
H407/12 Athens and the Greek World
Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
*18 45 624 4 48 *
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
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] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (CJ) 354031/4 Turn over
, 2
Section A: Relations between Greek states and between
Greek and non-Greek states, 492– 404 BC
Answer Question 1 or Question 2 and answer Question 3.
Answer either Question 1 or Question 2.
1* ‘The Persians were consistent in their policy and actions towards the Greek states from
492–431 BC.’
To what extent do the sources support this statement?
You must use and analyse the ancient sources you have studied as well as your own knowledge
to support your answer. [30]
2* How far would you agree that the Peace of Nicias of 421 BC was always the most likely outcome
of the first ten years of the Peloponnesian War?
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.
Adapted from Simon Hornblower, The Greek World 479 - 323 B ,p 92, Methuen, 1985. Item removed due to third party copyright restrictions.
How convincing do you find Hornblower’s interpretation of the Megarian decree and the reasons
for the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War?
You must use your knowledge of the historical period and the ancient sources you have studied
to analyse and evaluate Hornblower’s interpretation. [20]
© OCR 2025 H407/12 Jun25
, 3
Section B: The Culture and Politics of Athens, c.460–c.399 BC
Answer Question 4 and answer Question 5 or Question 6.
Answer Question 4.
4 Read the passage below.
© Plutarch; Ian Scott-Kilvert, The Rise and Fall of Athens: Nine Greek Lives, pp 221-222, 1960, Penguin Classics, 1960. From first line " At first the people were delighted and treated the result as a great joke." to last line "a relative of the tyrant Pisistratus, had been the first." Item removed due to third p
How useful is this passage for our understanding of the importance of ostracism and its use
during this period? [12]
© OCR 2025 H407/12 Jun25 Turn over
