Ancient History J198,02 November 2020 , OCR GCSE Past Papers with Mark Schemes

1. The Foundations of Rome (753–440 BC): The role of Etruscan kings, the Second Secession, the influence of religion and war on Rome’s early development, and economic challenges like debt and poverty in the Republic’s early years.

2. Hannibal and the Second Punic War (218–201 BC): Key battles such as Cannae and Zama, the effectiveness of Hannibal’s military strategies, the significance of Roman leadership, and a comparison between Hannibal and Fabius Maximus.

3. Cleopatra and Rome (69–30 BC): Cleopatra’s association with Egyptian divinity, her political alliances with Caesar and Antony, the accuracy of accounts surrounding her death, and her overall effectiveness as a political leader.

4. Roman Britain (AD 43–84): Methods of Roman control over Britain, military campaigns and resistance, Calgacus’ opposition to Rome, and the impact of Roman governance on British society.

5. Analysis of Primary Sources: Evaluation of historical texts from Livy, Plutarch, Tacitus, and other sources to assess their reliability, biases, and contribution to understanding key events.

6. Military and Political Power Struggles: Examination of leadership, military strategies, revolts, and diplomacy shaping Rome’s dominance in the Mediterranean and Britain.