A LEVEL ANCIENT HISTORY H407/11
SPARTA AND THE GREEK WORLD ACTUAL
2025 PAPER MERGED WITH MARK
SCHEME
vincent marekia
[COMPANY NAME] [Company address]
, 1
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
A LEVEL ANCIENT HISTORY
H407/11 SPARTA AND THE
GREEK WORLD ACTUAL 2025
PAPER MERGED WITH MARK
SCHEME
A LEVEL ANCIENT HISTORY
H407/11 SPARTA AND THE
GREEK WORLD ACTUAL 2025
PAPER MERGED WITH MARK
SCHEME
A LEVEL ANCIENT HISTORY
H407/11 SPARTA AND THE
GREEK WORLD ACTUAL 2025
PAPER MERGED WITH MARK
SCHEME
© OCR 2025 H407/11 Jun25
, 2
*1844980432*
T
uesday 20 May 2025 – Morning
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 four questions in total:
Section A: Answer Question 1 or Question 2 and answer Question 3.
Section B: Answer Question 4 and answer Question 5 or Question 6.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 98.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2025 [603/0805/9] DC (CJ) 354032/3
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
Section A: Relations between Greek states and between Greek and non-Greek
states, 492– 404 BC
Answer Question 1 or Question 2 and answer Question 3.
Answer either Question 1 or Question 2.
1* ‘The Persians were consistent in their policy and actions towards the Greek states
from 492–431 BC.’
To what extent do the sources support this statement?
You must use and analyse the ancient sources you have studied as well as your own
knowledge to support your answer. [30]
© OCR 2025 H407/11 Jun25
, 3
2* How far would you agree that the Peace of Nicias of 421 BC was always the most
likely outcome of the first ten years of the Peloponnesian War?
You must use and analyse the ancient sources you have studied as well as your own
knowledge to support your answer. [30]
Answer Question 3.
3 Read the interpretation below.
So the Megarian decree had economic effects, and was surely intended to. Of course 5
the Athenians took good care not to be wrongfooted morally: hence a religious aspect
was needed for the punishment of an ostensibly religious offence. … But the Megarian
decree was seen, with justification, as Athenian aggression, and Corinth, remembering
the 460s, must have thought Athens was up to her old intrigues. … It seems then that for
much of the 430s war looked imminent, and to that extent Thucydides, who under-
reports the earlier stirrings and expansion, should be corrected. But his general picture
of Athenian expansion, forcing the Spartans to war, stands.
S. Hornblower, The Greek World 479–323 BC (adapted)
How convincing do you find Hornblower’s interpretation of the Megarian decree and
the reasons for the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War?
You must use your knowledge of the historical period and the ancient sources you have
studied
to analyse and evaluate Hornblower’s interpretation. [20] Section B: The Society
and Politics of Sparta, 478–404 BC
Answer Question 4 and answer Question 5 or Question 6.
Answer Question 4.
4 Read the passages below.
Lykourgos gave the greatest possible attention to girls’ upbringing also. For them,
before puberty, he instituted a physically tough curriculum of running, wrestling, discus
and javelin throwing, so that the products of their wombs should have a really strong
start in a powerful body, and develop all the more strongly. As a result the mothers
would also better tolerate childbirth and be able to endure labour pains more easily 5
and successfully. He had no time for the idea of a sheltered upbringing for girls any
more than boys, and eliminated all forms of feeble effeminacy, …
Plutarch, Life of Lykourgos (Lycurgus), 14.1–2 [Lactor 21 D70]
© OCR 2025 H407/11 Jun25
SPARTA AND THE GREEK WORLD ACTUAL
2025 PAPER MERGED WITH MARK
SCHEME
vincent marekia
[COMPANY NAME] [Company address]
, 1
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
A LEVEL ANCIENT HISTORY
H407/11 SPARTA AND THE
GREEK WORLD ACTUAL 2025
PAPER MERGED WITH MARK
SCHEME
A LEVEL ANCIENT HISTORY
H407/11 SPARTA AND THE
GREEK WORLD ACTUAL 2025
PAPER MERGED WITH MARK
SCHEME
A LEVEL ANCIENT HISTORY
H407/11 SPARTA AND THE
GREEK WORLD ACTUAL 2025
PAPER MERGED WITH MARK
SCHEME
© OCR 2025 H407/11 Jun25
, 2
*1844980432*
T
uesday 20 May 2025 – Morning
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 four questions in total:
Section A: Answer Question 1 or Question 2 and answer Question 3.
Section B: Answer Question 4 and answer Question 5 or Question 6.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 98.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2025 [603/0805/9] DC (CJ) 354032/3
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
Section A: Relations between Greek states and between Greek and non-Greek
states, 492– 404 BC
Answer Question 1 or Question 2 and answer Question 3.
Answer either Question 1 or Question 2.
1* ‘The Persians were consistent in their policy and actions towards the Greek states
from 492–431 BC.’
To what extent do the sources support this statement?
You must use and analyse the ancient sources you have studied as well as your own
knowledge to support your answer. [30]
© OCR 2025 H407/11 Jun25
, 3
2* How far would you agree that the Peace of Nicias of 421 BC was always the most
likely outcome of the first ten years of the Peloponnesian War?
You must use and analyse the ancient sources you have studied as well as your own
knowledge to support your answer. [30]
Answer Question 3.
3 Read the interpretation below.
So the Megarian decree had economic effects, and was surely intended to. Of course 5
the Athenians took good care not to be wrongfooted morally: hence a religious aspect
was needed for the punishment of an ostensibly religious offence. … But the Megarian
decree was seen, with justification, as Athenian aggression, and Corinth, remembering
the 460s, must have thought Athens was up to her old intrigues. … It seems then that for
much of the 430s war looked imminent, and to that extent Thucydides, who under-
reports the earlier stirrings and expansion, should be corrected. But his general picture
of Athenian expansion, forcing the Spartans to war, stands.
S. Hornblower, The Greek World 479–323 BC (adapted)
How convincing do you find Hornblower’s interpretation of the Megarian decree and
the reasons for the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War?
You must use your knowledge of the historical period and the ancient sources you have
studied
to analyse and evaluate Hornblower’s interpretation. [20] Section B: The Society
and Politics of Sparta, 478–404 BC
Answer Question 4 and answer Question 5 or Question 6.
Answer Question 4.
4 Read the passages below.
Lykourgos gave the greatest possible attention to girls’ upbringing also. For them,
before puberty, he instituted a physically tough curriculum of running, wrestling, discus
and javelin throwing, so that the products of their wombs should have a really strong
start in a powerful body, and develop all the more strongly. As a result the mothers
would also better tolerate childbirth and be able to endure labour pains more easily 5
and successfully. He had no time for the idea of a sheltered upbringing for girls any
more than boys, and eliminated all forms of feeble effeminacy, …
Plutarch, Life of Lykourgos (Lycurgus), 14.1–2 [Lactor 21 D70]
© OCR 2025 H407/11 Jun25
