Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Thursday 23 May 2024 – Afternoon
GCSE (9–1) Ancient History
J198/02 Rome and its neighbours
Time allowed: 2 hours
* 1 3 6 7 8 6 4 6 6 8 *
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 all the questions in Section A and all the questions in either Section B or
Section C or Section D.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 105.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• Spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG) and the use of specialist terminology will be
assessed in questions marked with a pencil ().
• This document has 8 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2024 [603/0664/6] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (SK) 332652/5 Turn over
, 2
Section A
The foundations of Rome: From kingship to republic, 753–440 BC
1
(a) Identify one of the myths about the childhood of Servius Tullius. [1]
(b) Identify one of the problems facing the plebeians before the First Secession. [1]
(c) State two important events that were said to have taken place during the time of Romulus’
kingship. [2]
2 Outline how Lucius Junius Brutus helped create the Roman Republic. [6]
Passage A
The year (445 BC) was full of difficulties… The tribune of the plebeians, Gaius Canuleius, wanted
to pass a law allowing plebeians and patricians to marry (and to allow plebeians to become
consuls). The senators were furious… The senators believed that if Gaius succeeded, they would
have to share power with the dregs of society, and eventually lose power altogether…
The Senate was overjoyed when they were told Ardea was revolting, the Veientes, Volsci and
Aequi were preparing for war. So, the Senate exaggerated these threats and convinced the
consuls to prepare the plebeians for war…
Gaius gave a defiant speech in the Senate. He said forcing the plebeians into the army would not
stop them from demanding new laws. As long as he lived, he would not hold a levy. Gaius then
called an assembly of the plebeians.
Livy, The History of Rome 4.1
dregs – worst part found at the bottom levy – to recruit soldiers for the army
3 Using details from Passage A and your own knowledge, what can we learn about the rights and
lives of plebeians between 509 and 440 BC? [10]
4 Using details from Passage A and your own knowledge, explain why plebeians’ lives did not
significantly improve between 509 and 440 BC. [15]
5* ‘All of Rome’s kings failed.’
To what extent do you agree with this view? [20]
() Spelling, punctuation and grammar and the use of specialist terminology [5]
© OCR 2024 J198/02 Jun24
, 3
Section B
Hannibal and the Second Punic War, 218–201 BC
6
(a) Name the leader of Carthage, appointed by Rome, after its surrender in 201 BC. [1]
(b) Identify two ways Spain helped Carthage during the Second Punic War. [2]
(c) Identify two problems facing Hannibal after the battle of Cannae. [2]
Passage B
Such was the famous battle of Trasimene. 15 000 Romans died in the battle; 10 000, scattered in
their escape, travelled back to Rome by different routes. 2 500 enemy soldiers died in battle, and
many more afterwards, from their wounds.
Many more losses on both sides are recorded by others; I myself (besides the point that I would
never exaggerate anything unnecessarily, which historians in general are all too inclined to do),
have taken Fabius, a contemporary of this war, as my primary source.
Hannibal dismissed all Latin prisoners without a ransom; he put Roman prisoners in chains.
He ordered that the bodies of his men should be separated from the heaps of enemy dead and
buried. He would have also given Flaminius a funeral, but despite searching for his body with
immense care, he could not find it.
Livy, The History of Rome 22.7
7 What can we learn from Passage B about the aftermath of the battle of Trasimene? [5]
8 Using details from Passage B, how accurate is Livy’s description of events after the battle
of Trasimene? [5]
9 Explain the main mistakes that the Roman consuls made at Trebia, Trasimene and Cannae. [10]
10* ‘Hannibal’s greatest achievement was crossing the Alps.’
To what extent do you agree with this statement?
You must use and analyse the ancient sources you have studied as well as supporting your
answer with your own knowledge. [20]
© OCR 2024 J198/02 Jun24 Turn over
, 4
Section C
Cleopatra: Rome and Egypt, 69–30 BC
11
(a) Give two details from the preparations for the Battle of Actium. [2]
(b) Give two visual features of Cleopatra’s appearance in representations from Greek archaeological
sources. [2]
(c) Which goddess did Cleopatra dress like, when she met Antony at Tarsus? [1]
Passage C
But he (Caesar) earned the greatest disapproval from everyone because of his passion for
Cleopatra – not now the passion he had displayed in Egypt (for that was a matter of hearsay),
but that which was displayed in Rome itself. For she had come to the city with her husband and
settled in Caesar’s own house, so that he too got a bad reputation because of both of them. But
he was not at all concerned about this and actually signed them up among the friends and allies of
the Roman people.
Cassius Dio, Roman History XLIII 27
... I hate the Queen. Ammonius (the one who is meant to keep her promises) knows that I have a
good reason for it…. I cannot remember without great pain the arrogance of the Queen herself,
when she was at the pleasure gardens across the River Tiber. So I won’t have anything to do
with that lot.
Cicero, Letter to Atticus XV.15
12 What can we learn from Passage C about Cleopatra’s visit to Rome and her reception there? [5]
13 Using details from Passage C, how accurate do you think Dio and / or Cicero’s accounts of
Cleopatra’s visit to Rome and her reception are? [5]
14 Explain the difficulties Cleopatra faced after the death of her father Ptolemy. [10]
15* To what extent do the ancient sources help us to understand whether Cleopatra’s downfall was
caused by the rivalry between Antony and Octavian?
You must use and analyse the ancient sources you have studied as well as supporting your
answer with your own knowledge. [20]
© OCR 2024 J198/02 Jun24
Thursday 23 May 2024 – Afternoon
GCSE (9–1) Ancient History
J198/02 Rome and its neighbours
Time allowed: 2 hours
* 1 3 6 7 8 6 4 6 6 8 *
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 all the questions in Section A and all the questions in either Section B or
Section C or Section D.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 105.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• Spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG) and the use of specialist terminology will be
assessed in questions marked with a pencil ().
• This document has 8 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2024 [603/0664/6] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (SK) 332652/5 Turn over
, 2
Section A
The foundations of Rome: From kingship to republic, 753–440 BC
1
(a) Identify one of the myths about the childhood of Servius Tullius. [1]
(b) Identify one of the problems facing the plebeians before the First Secession. [1]
(c) State two important events that were said to have taken place during the time of Romulus’
kingship. [2]
2 Outline how Lucius Junius Brutus helped create the Roman Republic. [6]
Passage A
The year (445 BC) was full of difficulties… The tribune of the plebeians, Gaius Canuleius, wanted
to pass a law allowing plebeians and patricians to marry (and to allow plebeians to become
consuls). The senators were furious… The senators believed that if Gaius succeeded, they would
have to share power with the dregs of society, and eventually lose power altogether…
The Senate was overjoyed when they were told Ardea was revolting, the Veientes, Volsci and
Aequi were preparing for war. So, the Senate exaggerated these threats and convinced the
consuls to prepare the plebeians for war…
Gaius gave a defiant speech in the Senate. He said forcing the plebeians into the army would not
stop them from demanding new laws. As long as he lived, he would not hold a levy. Gaius then
called an assembly of the plebeians.
Livy, The History of Rome 4.1
dregs – worst part found at the bottom levy – to recruit soldiers for the army
3 Using details from Passage A and your own knowledge, what can we learn about the rights and
lives of plebeians between 509 and 440 BC? [10]
4 Using details from Passage A and your own knowledge, explain why plebeians’ lives did not
significantly improve between 509 and 440 BC. [15]
5* ‘All of Rome’s kings failed.’
To what extent do you agree with this view? [20]
() Spelling, punctuation and grammar and the use of specialist terminology [5]
© OCR 2024 J198/02 Jun24
, 3
Section B
Hannibal and the Second Punic War, 218–201 BC
6
(a) Name the leader of Carthage, appointed by Rome, after its surrender in 201 BC. [1]
(b) Identify two ways Spain helped Carthage during the Second Punic War. [2]
(c) Identify two problems facing Hannibal after the battle of Cannae. [2]
Passage B
Such was the famous battle of Trasimene. 15 000 Romans died in the battle; 10 000, scattered in
their escape, travelled back to Rome by different routes. 2 500 enemy soldiers died in battle, and
many more afterwards, from their wounds.
Many more losses on both sides are recorded by others; I myself (besides the point that I would
never exaggerate anything unnecessarily, which historians in general are all too inclined to do),
have taken Fabius, a contemporary of this war, as my primary source.
Hannibal dismissed all Latin prisoners without a ransom; he put Roman prisoners in chains.
He ordered that the bodies of his men should be separated from the heaps of enemy dead and
buried. He would have also given Flaminius a funeral, but despite searching for his body with
immense care, he could not find it.
Livy, The History of Rome 22.7
7 What can we learn from Passage B about the aftermath of the battle of Trasimene? [5]
8 Using details from Passage B, how accurate is Livy’s description of events after the battle
of Trasimene? [5]
9 Explain the main mistakes that the Roman consuls made at Trebia, Trasimene and Cannae. [10]
10* ‘Hannibal’s greatest achievement was crossing the Alps.’
To what extent do you agree with this statement?
You must use and analyse the ancient sources you have studied as well as supporting your
answer with your own knowledge. [20]
© OCR 2024 J198/02 Jun24 Turn over
, 4
Section C
Cleopatra: Rome and Egypt, 69–30 BC
11
(a) Give two details from the preparations for the Battle of Actium. [2]
(b) Give two visual features of Cleopatra’s appearance in representations from Greek archaeological
sources. [2]
(c) Which goddess did Cleopatra dress like, when she met Antony at Tarsus? [1]
Passage C
But he (Caesar) earned the greatest disapproval from everyone because of his passion for
Cleopatra – not now the passion he had displayed in Egypt (for that was a matter of hearsay),
but that which was displayed in Rome itself. For she had come to the city with her husband and
settled in Caesar’s own house, so that he too got a bad reputation because of both of them. But
he was not at all concerned about this and actually signed them up among the friends and allies of
the Roman people.
Cassius Dio, Roman History XLIII 27
... I hate the Queen. Ammonius (the one who is meant to keep her promises) knows that I have a
good reason for it…. I cannot remember without great pain the arrogance of the Queen herself,
when she was at the pleasure gardens across the River Tiber. So I won’t have anything to do
with that lot.
Cicero, Letter to Atticus XV.15
12 What can we learn from Passage C about Cleopatra’s visit to Rome and her reception there? [5]
13 Using details from Passage C, how accurate do you think Dio and / or Cicero’s accounts of
Cleopatra’s visit to Rome and her reception are? [5]
14 Explain the difficulties Cleopatra faced after the death of her father Ptolemy. [10]
15* To what extent do the ancient sources help us to understand whether Cleopatra’s downfall was
caused by the rivalry between Antony and Octavian?
You must use and analyse the ancient sources you have studied as well as supporting your
answer with your own knowledge. [20]
© OCR 2024 J198/02 Jun24
