2025 OCR A Level Ancient History H407/21 Republic and Empire Combined Question
Paper & Final Marking Scheme
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Monday 2 June 2025 – Afternoon
A Level Ancient History
H407/21 Republic and Empire
Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
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.
DC (WW) 353009/2
© OCR 2025 [603/0805/9] OCR is an
, exempt Charity
Turn over
*1845497997*
, 2
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?
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, 5
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 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 10
for themselves supreme control over the Roman world.
J-A Shelton, As the Romans Did (adapted)
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]
© OCR 2025 H407/21 Jun25
, 3
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 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 5
enjoy the protection of the law and retain our personal liberty after 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 10
commons themselves, either motivated by a desire 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 15
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 33
How useful is this passage for our understanding of the motivation of the Catilinarian
conspirators? [12]
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
Paper & Final Marking Scheme
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Monday 2 June 2025 – Afternoon
A Level Ancient History
H407/21 Republic and Empire
Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
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.
DC (WW) 353009/2
© OCR 2025 [603/0805/9] OCR is an
, exempt Charity
Turn over
*1845497997*
, 2
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?
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, 5
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 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 10
for themselves supreme control over the Roman world.
J-A Shelton, As the Romans Did (adapted)
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]
© OCR 2025 H407/21 Jun25
, 3
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 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 5
enjoy the protection of the law and retain our personal liberty after 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 10
commons themselves, either motivated by a desire 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 15
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 33
How useful is this passage for our understanding of the motivation of the Catilinarian
conspirators? [12]
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
