Monday 3 June 2024 – Morning
A Level Classical Civilisation
H408/34 Democracy and the Athenians
Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes
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Section A
Start your answer to each 10, 20 and 30 mark question on a new page.
Source A
Thucydides: History of the Peloponnesian War 2.65.5–9
During peacetime, he had ruled moderately and steadfastly. Athens had been safe
under his leadership, and had indeed reached the very height of her greatness. When
the war began, he also demonstrated that he had made an accurate estimate of Athens’
power under these circumstances. He outlived the outbreak of war by two years and
six months, and after his death, his foresight was appreciated even more than when 5
he was alive. He had told the Athenians to be patient and take care of their navy, not to
attempt to enlarge their empire during the war, and not to put the city in danger; if they
did all of this, they would be victorious. In fact, they did everything he told them not to
do, adopting policies with disastrous effects for themselves and their allies in matters
seemingly unrelated to the war, motivated by personal ambition and self-interest. 10
Had this been successful, it would have brought honour and profit only to individuals,
and if unsuccessful, it would have sabotaged the city’s war effort.
The reason for this was not difficult to find. Pericles derived his authority from his high
reputation and intelligence, while he was also clearly incorruptible. Therefore he was
able to control the people freely: to lead, rather than be led by them. Since he did 15
not seek power by dishonest means, he did not need to flatter them; because of the
strength of his own worthy character, he could go so far as to oppose and even to
anger the people. When he saw them unsuitably over-confident and arrogant, his words
would strike fear into them; when they were needlessly fearful, he would build up their
confidence again. Thus Athens, although a democracy in name, was in fact ruled by its 20
first citizen.
1
(a) ‘He had ruled’ (line 1). ‘He’ refers to Pericles. What official post did Pericles hold in Athens for
most of the 10 years before his death? [1]
(b) State one way in which this post was different from the other posts which Athenian citizens could
hold. [1]
2 ‘After his death’ (line 5). What caused Pericles’ death? [1]
3 Explain what impression Thucydides creates of Pericles’ character and his influence in Athens in
the late 5th century BC in Source A. [10]
After the tyrant Hippias was expelled in 510 BC, there was civil conflict between two main
factions in Athens until Cleisthenes gained power in 508 BC. During 508 BC and 507 BC,
Cleisthenes made several important reforms to the Athenian constitution.
4 To which influential Athenian family did Cleisthenes belong? [1]
5 State the name of the Athenian who led the main faction opposed to Cleisthenes after Hippias
was expelled. [1]
6 Explain how Cleisthenes’ reforms might have helped to reassure Athenian citizens that civil
conflicts were less likely to occur in the future. [10]
7* ‘Thanks to Cleisthenes, the Boule (Council of 500) became the most important element of the
Athenian democracy.’
Assess how far you agree with this statement. [20]
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