Life in the Roman world: overview of the SQA Higher Classical Studies Roman society section

Life in the Roman world is Section 2 of the SQA Higher Classical Studies Classical Society question paper. Like the Greek section, it is studied through two parts, Part A: Power and freedom and Part B: Religion and belief, with the focus on the early Roman empire. This page maps what each part covers and how the section is assessed.

Part A: Power and freedom

This part centres on imperial power and the reach of freedom:

• The emperor. Augustus founds the empire while pretending to restore the Republic; real power rests on the army, the provinces and the treasury.
• The Senate and the army. The Senate survives and gives legitimacy; the Praetorian Guard and events like AD 69 show power rests on military backing.
• Citizenship. Its legal rights and status, and its gradual extension until Caracalla's grant of AD 212.
• Society and freedom. The hierarchy from senators to slaves, slavery and manumission, freedmen, and the position of women.

Part B: Religion and belief

This part covers Roman religious life:

• Religion as public duty. The pax deorum, the state gods, priesthoods held by politicians, omens and augury.
• The imperial cult. Worship of the emperor's genius and of deified emperors as an expression of loyalty.
• Tolerance and its exception. Rome absorbed most foreign cults, but persecuted Christianity, because Christians refused to sacrifice to the gods or emperor.

How the section is assessed

Section 2 forms half of the 50-mark Classical Society paper. Expect a mix of:

1. Shorter "describe" and "explain" questions that reward accurate, organised knowledge.
2. Longer evaluative essays (for example "to what extent" or "why") that reward a line of argument, balanced analysis and a supported conclusion.

You must know the content in detail and be able to argue a judgement.

How to study Life in the Roman world

1. Distinguish appearance from reality of power. Augustus kept republican forms but held the army, provinces and treasury.
2. Grade freedom by status. Be ready to set citizen rights and manumission against the unfreedom of slaves.
3. Learn the religion as public duty. Know the pax deorum, the imperial cult, and why Christianity was the exception.
4. Practise the evaluative essay. Drill "to what extent" and "why" answers with a clear judgement.
5. Use SQA past papers. The question styles and marking instructions show what examiners reward.

For the official course specification

The SQA publishes the full Higher Classical Studies course specification, the classical society specimen question paper, and past papers with marking instructions at sqa.org.uk. Always revise from the current specification and SQA past papers, because the content and question style are board-specific.