Ancient History J198,11 November 2021 , OCR GCSE Past Papers with Mark Schemes

1. Cyrus and His Conquests | City captured by Cyrus after defeating Croesus, tribe fighting Cyrus at his death, Cambyses’ invasion of Egypt, role of former Spartan king as adviser to Darius and Xerxes.

2. Darius’ Architectural and Administrative Projects | Main features of Darius’ building projects, comparison of his leadership approach with Cyrus, destruction and rebuilding of Babylon, treatment of Babylonian captives.

3. Darius’ Leadership and Policies | Analysis of Darius’ effectiveness, political and military strategies, administrative reforms, economic policies.

4. Cyrus vs. Darius in Expansion and Governance | Attitude toward enemies, military campaigns, empire consolidation, policies on conquered regions.

5. Comparative Analysis of Persian Kings | Extent of Cyrus’ ambition in expanding the empire, military achievements, governance approach compared to other rulers.

6. Extended Response Topics | Leadership effectiveness of Darius, military and administrative policies of Persian rulers, Cyrus’ role in the empire’s expansion.