A Level Ancient History Topics: Full List

A Level Ancient History – currently only offered by OCR (opens in a new tab) – splits its topics across the worlds of ancient Greece and Rome. You’ll take two compulsory period studies, and you’ll choose two different depth studies.

This article includes an official and complete breakdown of the A Level Ancient History topics you need to revise. We’ll also explain how to use topic lists for effective revision.

Key Takeaways

• OCR is the only exam board currently offering A Level Ancient History 

• A Level Ancient History topics are split across the worlds of ancient Greece and Rome

• Use topic lists to create a revision plan and organise your notes

Why It's Important to Know Your Exam Board

Although subject content often overlaps across exam boards, each exam board has a different syllabus. This means that the same subject can be taught very differently in one exam board compared to another, with varying topics, skills and assessment methods.

Knowing exactly which topics your exam board covers means you can create a focused revision plan. You won't waste time studying content that won't be tested, and you'll know exactly what to expect when it comes to exams.

Only OCR currently offers A Level Ancient History, so if you’re studying this qualification, OCR is your exam board. Fortunately, having only one exam board makes it much easier to work out what you need to revise!

OCR A Level Ancient History Topics (H407)

The Greek World

• Period study (compulsory)

  • Relations between Greek states and between Greek and non-Greek states, 492–404 BC

    • The challenge of the Persian Empire, 492–479

    • Greece in conflict, 479–446 BC

    • Peace and conflict, 446–431 BC

    • The Archidamian War, 431–420 BC

    • The end of the Peloponnesian War and its aftermath, 419–404 BC

• Depth study – choose from one of the following:

  • The Society and Politics of Sparta, 478–404 BC

    • Education

    • Social structure

    • Political structure

    • Spartan military culture and its importance in society and politics

    • Other states’ view of Sparta and the effect of Spartan system on policy

  • The Culture and Politics of Athens, c.460–399 BC 

    • Political and social culture

    • The influence of new thinking and ideas on society

    • Art, architecture, drama, dramatic festivals and religion, and their significance in Athenian culture

  • The Rise of Macedon, 359–323 BC

    • Growth in Macedonian power and the role of Philip in that process

    • Major events of Alexander’s career and their significance

    • Philip and Alexander

      • Change and continuity in their aims

      • Their character and beliefs

    • Relationships between monarchs and others, including the army and Greek and conquered states

The Roman World

• Period study (compulsory)

  • The Julio-Claudian Emperors, 31 BC–AD 68

    • Augustus, 31 BC–AD 14

    • Tiberius, AD 14–37

    • Gaius, AD 37–41

    • Claudius, AD 41–54

    • Nero, AD 54–68

• Depth study – choose from one of the following:

  • The Breakdown of the Late Republic, 88–31 BC 

    • Form of and challenges to the Constitution

    • The means by which politicians achieved success

    • Importance of the following in the breakdown of the Republic:

      • Politicians and other individuals

      • Social and economic relationships

  • The Flavians, AD 68–96 

    • Year of the four Emperors: the establishment of the Flavian dynasty, AD 68–69

    • Nature of the Principate: development of the role and power of the princeps during the dynasty

    • Personalities of Vespasian, Titus and Domitian, their reigns and their relations with citizens and non-citizens in both Rome and the provinces

    • Propaganda: its role in creating and supporting the dynasty and the extent to which it affected the popularity and support of the emperors

    • Religion: its role in the principate and Roman Society and its importance for the dynasty

  • Ruling Roman Britain, AD 43–c.128

    • Roman military policy towards Britain: conquest and expansion

    • Frontier policy: consolidation and retrenchment, AD 85–c.128

    • Resistance to and effects of Roman rule

    • Roman control

The table below shows what comes up in each A Level Ancient History exam paper:

How to Use Topic Lists for Revision

Create a revision plan

Print or write out your topics into a checklist. Use the traffic light system (opens in a new tab) to prioritise weaker areas, and tick each area off as you revise. Seeing progress is really motivating, and it stops you from accidentally skipping anything important.

Organise your notes and flashcards by topic

Separating your notes and flashcards according to topic will make it much easier to find information quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to revise all A Level Ancient History topics for the exam?

Both components test you on one period study and one depth study: Component Group 1 is on the Greek world, and Component Group 2 is on the Roman world. You don’t need to revise Roman topics for Component Group 1 or Greek topics for Component Group 2.

Are these topics the same across all exam boards?

OCR is the only exam board currently offering A Level Ancient History.

If other exam boards offer A Level Ancient History in the future, the content will overlap, but specifications and exam formats will remain distinct.

How do I know which topics I struggle with most?

Complete past papers and check how you did against the mark scheme. You can then use the traffic light system to prioritise revising whichever areas you scored the lowest in.

Do all topics come up in every exam paper?

No. Component Group 1 is on ancient Greece, and Component Group 2 is on ancient Rome. 

Final Thoughts

Using topic lists to structure your A Level Ancient History revision means you'll know exactly what to study, and how to allocate your time between each area.

Bookmark or print this page, and use it as your roadmap. Work through each of the topics, tick them off as you go, practise answering past paper questions, and persevere to improve your knowledge and skills for both components.

References

• How to Use the Traffic Light System to Improve Your Marks (opens in a new tab)

• OCR A Level Ancient History (opens in a new tab)