Ancient History J198,22 November 2021 , OCR GCSE Past Papers with Mark Schemes

1. Hannibal and the Second Punic War (218–201 BC): The role of Hannibal’s brothers, the tactics of Fabius Maximus, the significance of the Battle of Cannae, the impact of Hannibal’s actions in causing the war, and Rome’s successes in Africa as a decisive factor.

2. Cleopatra: Rome and Egypt (69–30 BC): Cleopatra’s need for Julius Caesar’s support, the political consequences of Pompey’s death, opposition from her family, the portrayal of the Battle of Actium in Virgil’s Aeneid, and the reliability of ancient sources in understanding Cleopatra’s character.

3. Britannia: From Conquest to Province (AD 43–84): The role of British client states, the Roman fear of the Druids, the importance of Fishbourne, Claudius’ role in the conquest of Britain, the significance of Agricola’s achievements, and the sources’ reliability in explaining Boudicca’s revolt.

4. Military and Political Conflicts: Analysis of leadership strategies, warfare, alliances, and conquests shaping Rome’s expansion and influence.

5. Evaluation of Ancient Sources: Examination of Polybius, Virgil, and Cassius Dio for accuracy, bias, and historical interpretation.

6. Impact of Leadership and Diplomacy: The influence of key figures like Hannibal, Cleopatra, and Claudius in shaping military and political outcomes.