Skip to main content

Classics: Ancient History (OCR AS/A2 spec at a glance)

GENERAL

AS - Greek History from Original Sources
Option 3: Politics and Society of Ancient Sparta

Literary Sources
o Aristophanes, Lysistrata 980–1321
o Diodorus, 11.50
o Herodotus, 1. 65–68, 5. 39–51, 6. 56–86d, 7. 202–239
o Plutarch, Lycurgus, 6–9, 12–14, 24–26, 28
o Thucydides, 1. 79–87, 101–103
o Tyrtaeus, 10–12
o Xenophon, Constitution of the Spartans

Topics
o Social Structure of Sparta (incl. Spartiates, Perioikoi & Helots)
o Political Structure of Sparta (incl. Kings, Gerousia, Ephors & Assembly)
o Education and Values in Sparta | Role of Men and Women
o Sparta and the Peloponnese, 480-404 BC (Corinth, Tegea, Argos & Messenia)
o Views of Sparta from other states (Athens)
o Spartan Mirage and Myth of Lycurgus (ref. Plutarch)

AS - Roman History from Original Sources
Option 1: Cicero and Political life in late Roman Republic

Literary Sources
o Cicero, Against Catiline II. 17–23, IV. 7–10, 20–22
o Cicero, Pro Sestio 75–79, 96–105
o Pro Murena 21–25
o Cicero, Selected Letters 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16
o Quintus Cicero, Commentariolum Petitionis
o Sallust, Catiline 7–13, 20, 36–39, 51–52
o Plutarch, Life of Cicero 9–23, Caesar 13–14, Pompey 47
o Suetonius, The Deified Julius 10, 19–20

Topics
o Nature and Workings of Republican Politics (late 60s / early 50s BC)
o Role of the Senate, Elections and the Cursus Honorum
o Importance of Rhetoric and Public Speaking
o Factions in Rome - Optimates & Populares | Patrons & Clients
o Effects of Competition between Individuals and Groups in Roman Politics
o Growing Influence of Military Leaders (incl. Pompey, Caesar & Crassus)
o The Catilinarian Conspiracy and Cicero's Role

A2 - Greek History: Conflict & Culture
Option 1: Greece & Persia, 499-449 BC

Topics
o Expansion of the Persian Empire and its Impact upon the Greek World
o Relations between Persia & Greek City-States, 499-479 BC
o Role of Individuals & City-States in the Defence of Greece
o Continuing Conflict between Greeks & Persians in Asia Minor & the Eastern Mediterranean to 449 BC
o Greek Representations of Themselves & Non-Greeks
o Importance of Herodotus for our view of Conflict between Greece & Persia in the Fifth Century BC

A2 - Roman History: The Use & Abuse of Power
Option 1: The Fall of the Roman Republic, 81-31 BC

Topics
o Changing Distribution of Power during this Period
o Importance of Institutions & Individuals (incl. Sulla, Pompey, Crassus, Caesar, Cicero, Cato, Clodius, Catiline, Antony & Octavian)
o Challenges made by these Individuals & Factions to the Authority of the Senate, and the various Responses to Emergencies
o Extent of Participation by Citizens and the Growing Importance of the Plebs and their Demands
o Means by which Politicians in this Period Achieved Success
o Development of Violence & Fraud as a Political Tool in Rome
o Developing Importance of Military & Provincial Commands in the Roman Political System
o Social & Economic Effects of Conflict on the Roman World

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

English Literature (Edexcel A Level spec at a glance)

GENERAL Unit 1 - Drama 30% of total qualification WHAT'S ASSESSED? o SECTION A : One Shakespeare Play ( Othello )  - Critical Essays relating to Shakespeare Play ( A Critical Anthology - Tragedy ) o SECTION B : One other Tragedy or Comedy ( A Streetcar Named Desire - Tennessee Williams ) HOW'S IT ASSESSED? o Written Examination ( 2hrs, 15mins ) o SECTION A : 35 marks ( AO1 | AO2 | AO3 | AO5 ) o SECTION B : 25 marks ( AO1 | AO2 | AO3 ) Unit 2 - Prose 20% of total qualification WHAT'S ASSESSED? o Language, Structure & Form o Theme: Science & Society  - Pre-1900 Text ( Frankenstein - Mary Shelley )  - Other Text ( The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood ) HOW'S IT ASSESSED? o Written Examination ( 1hr ) o 40 marks ( AO1 | AO2 | AO3 | AO4 ) Unit 3 - Poetry 30% of total qualification WHAT'S ASSESSED? o Poetic Form, Meaning & Language o SECTION A : Post-2000 Specified Poetry  - Compare with one Unseen o SECTI...

Classics: Ancient History - Battles

THE BATTLE OF ACTIUM WHAT WAS THE BACKGROUND TO THIS CONFLICT? o 33 BC : The breakdown of the second Triumvirate was caused by Antony's treatment of Octavia  - he basically disavowed his and Octavian's marriage alliance by openly recognising Cleopatra as his wife  - war between the two was inevitable o Octavian had the upper hand in war propoganda because of his station in Rome  - when the inhabitants of Italian towns and cities swore allegiance to Octavian and his descendants and pledged to support him against his private enemies, the provincials of Sicily, Sardinia, Africa, Spain and Gaul followed suit o 32 BC : Antony's amicii were consuls and they opposed Octavian's demands to read Antony's will  - Antony sent formal notification of his divorce to Octavia o Octavian ensured that Antony's will (which he got from the Vestal Virgins) was made public which horrified the Romans  - recognition Ptolemy Caesar as the true son of Julius Caesar  - ex...