Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Thursday 15 May 2025 – Afternoon
GCSE (9–1) Ancient History
J198/01 Greece and Persia
Time allowed: 2 hours
*1889703060*
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
OCR OXFORD CAMBRIDGE AND RSA GCSE ANCIENT HISTORY J198/01
GREECE AND PERSIA QUESTIONS MAY 2025
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 all the questions in Section A and all the questions in either Section B or
Section C or Section D.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 105.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• Spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG) and the use of specialist terminology will be
assessed in questions marked with a pencil ().
• This document has 8 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2025 [603/0664/6] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (PQ/CT) 352051/2 Turn over
for more: tyrionpapers.com
, 2
Section A
The Persian Empire, 559–465 BC
1
(a) Name the king of Lydia who was defeated by Cyrus. [1]
(b) State the name of the most important Persian god. [1]
(c) Identify two consequences of the Ionian Revolt. [2]
2 Outline the main changes that Darius introduced to the way that the Persian Empire was run. [6]
Passage A
A PERSIAN MESSENGER gives an account of the battle of Salamis:
At once a ship hit another ship with its brass battering ram.
A Greek ship charged first, and chopped off the whole end
Of a Phoenician galley. Then charge followed charge
On every side. At first by its huge size
Our (Persian) fleet withstood them. But soon, in that narrow space,
Our (Persian) ships were jammed in hundreds; none could help another.
They rammed each other with their prows of bronze; and some
Were stripped of every oar. Meanwhile the enemy
Came round us in a ring and charged. Our (Persian) vessels toppled
Over; the sea was hidden, carpeted with wrecks
And dead men; all the shores and reefs were full of dead.
Then every ship we had broke rank and rowed for its life.
Aeschylus ‘The Persians’ l. 405–416
3 Using details from Passage A and your own knowledge, what can we learn about the tactics of
the Greeks that helped them to win the battle of Salamis? [10]
4 Using details from Passage A and your own knowledge, explain why Xerxes was unable to
defeat the Greeks. [15]
5 ‘The only aim of Persian kings was to live up to Cyrus’ example.’
To what extent do you agree with this view? [20]
Spelling, punctuation and grammar and the use of specialist terminology [5]
© OCR 2025 J198/01 Jun25
for more: tyrionpapers.com
Thursday 15 May 2025 – Afternoon
GCSE (9–1) Ancient History
J198/01 Greece and Persia
Time allowed: 2 hours
*1889703060*
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
OCR OXFORD CAMBRIDGE AND RSA GCSE ANCIENT HISTORY J198/01
GREECE AND PERSIA QUESTIONS MAY 2025
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 all the questions in Section A and all the questions in either Section B or
Section C or Section D.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 105.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• Spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG) and the use of specialist terminology will be
assessed in questions marked with a pencil ().
• This document has 8 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2025 [603/0664/6] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (PQ/CT) 352051/2 Turn over
for more: tyrionpapers.com
, 2
Section A
The Persian Empire, 559–465 BC
1
(a) Name the king of Lydia who was defeated by Cyrus. [1]
(b) State the name of the most important Persian god. [1]
(c) Identify two consequences of the Ionian Revolt. [2]
2 Outline the main changes that Darius introduced to the way that the Persian Empire was run. [6]
Passage A
A PERSIAN MESSENGER gives an account of the battle of Salamis:
At once a ship hit another ship with its brass battering ram.
A Greek ship charged first, and chopped off the whole end
Of a Phoenician galley. Then charge followed charge
On every side. At first by its huge size
Our (Persian) fleet withstood them. But soon, in that narrow space,
Our (Persian) ships were jammed in hundreds; none could help another.
They rammed each other with their prows of bronze; and some
Were stripped of every oar. Meanwhile the enemy
Came round us in a ring and charged. Our (Persian) vessels toppled
Over; the sea was hidden, carpeted with wrecks
And dead men; all the shores and reefs were full of dead.
Then every ship we had broke rank and rowed for its life.
Aeschylus ‘The Persians’ l. 405–416
3 Using details from Passage A and your own knowledge, what can we learn about the tactics of
the Greeks that helped them to win the battle of Salamis? [10]
4 Using details from Passage A and your own knowledge, explain why Xerxes was unable to
defeat the Greeks. [15]
5 ‘The only aim of Persian kings was to live up to Cyrus’ example.’
To what extent do you agree with this view? [20]
Spelling, punctuation and grammar and the use of specialist terminology [5]
© OCR 2025 J198/01 Jun25
for more: tyrionpapers.com
