2025 OCR A Level Ancient History H407/23 Emperors and Empire Combined Question
Paper & Final Marking Scheme
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Monday 2 June 2025 – Afternoon
A Level Ancient History
H407/23 Emperors 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) 353010/2
© OCR 2025 [603/0805/9] OCR is an
, exempt Charity
Turn over
*1846519634*
, 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 H407/23 Jun25
, 3
Section B: Ruling Roman Britain, AD 43–c.128
Answer Question 4 and then either Question 5 or Question 6.
Answer Question 4.
4 Read the sources below.
Arch of Claudius
Tiberius Clau[dius Cai]sar Augu[stus Germani]cus, son of Drusus, pontifex maximus,
in his eleventh year of tribunician power, consul five times, hailed as im[perator 22 (or
23) times, father] of his country; erected by the Senate and people of Rome because
[he received the submission] of eleven British kings, [conquered without] any loss, and
because he first brought barbarian tribes [beyond Ocean] into the dom[inion of the 5
Roman people].
ILS 216 [AD 51]
Mendip lead pig
Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus, pontifex maximus, in his ninth year of tribunician
power, sixteen times acclaimed imperator, from the British (mines).
RIB 2.1.2404.1 [AD 49]
How useful are these sources for our understanding of the benefits Claudius gained from
invading Britain in AD 43? [12]
Answer either Question 5 or Question 6.
5* How far can we trust the ancient accounts of the conquest of Britain AD 43–84?
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 did Roman treatment of the Britons cause discontent?
You must use and analyse the ancient sources you have studied as well as your own knowledge
to support your answer. [36]
END OF QUESTION PAPER
© OCR 2025 H407/23 Jun25
Paper & Final Marking Scheme
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Monday 2 June 2025 – Afternoon
A Level Ancient History
H407/23 Emperors 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) 353010/2
© OCR 2025 [603/0805/9] OCR is an
, exempt Charity
Turn over
*1846519634*
, 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 H407/23 Jun25
, 3
Section B: Ruling Roman Britain, AD 43–c.128
Answer Question 4 and then either Question 5 or Question 6.
Answer Question 4.
4 Read the sources below.
Arch of Claudius
Tiberius Clau[dius Cai]sar Augu[stus Germani]cus, son of Drusus, pontifex maximus,
in his eleventh year of tribunician power, consul five times, hailed as im[perator 22 (or
23) times, father] of his country; erected by the Senate and people of Rome because
[he received the submission] of eleven British kings, [conquered without] any loss, and
because he first brought barbarian tribes [beyond Ocean] into the dom[inion of the 5
Roman people].
ILS 216 [AD 51]
Mendip lead pig
Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus, pontifex maximus, in his ninth year of tribunician
power, sixteen times acclaimed imperator, from the British (mines).
RIB 2.1.2404.1 [AD 49]
How useful are these sources for our understanding of the benefits Claudius gained from
invading Britain in AD 43? [12]
Answer either Question 5 or Question 6.
5* How far can we trust the ancient accounts of the conquest of Britain AD 43–84?
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 did Roman treatment of the Britons cause discontent?
You must use and analyse the ancient sources you have studied as well as your own knowledge
to support your answer. [36]
END OF QUESTION PAPER
© OCR 2025 H407/23 Jun25
