Classical Civilisation J199,12 June 2022 , OCR GCSE Past Papers with Mark Schemes

1. Women in Ancient Greece: Athenian women’s roles, expectations to stay indoors, Praxagora’s views on female political participation, representations of Amazons in art, and Medea’s role in Greek tragedy.

2. Women in Ancient Rome: The cursus honorum and political structure, the repeal of the Oppian Law, influential Roman women, Sempronia’s role in conspiracy, and the political perception of Cleopatra.

3. Comparative Perspectives: The significance of childbearing in Athens and Rome, attitudes toward the deaths of mothers vs. children, and societal expectations placed on women in both civilizations.

4. Political and Social Power: Women’s involvement in governance, the portrayal of women in myths and history, the impact of Roman legal systems on female autonomy, and how women’s status was linked to family or political figures.

5. Key Classical Sources and Interpretations: Analysis of literary and artistic depictions of women, evaluating biases in historical sources, and comparing Greek and Roman perspectives on female influence.

6. Debates on Education and Representation: The importance of educating girls in Greece and Rome, whether ancient myths always portrayed women negatively, and how these narratives reflected or shaped real societal attitudes.