Quick questions on Comparing the classical and modern worlds - SQA National 5 Classical Studies

A good comparison starts with real, specific similarities, not woolly ones. Across the course you can find values that still matter today: families were central in both Athens and Rome, as now; loyalty was prized, as Penelope shows; hospitality (xenia) mattered deeply, as kindness to guests does today; and people loved mass entertainment, much as modern crowds enjoy sport. Naming a specific shared value and tying it to a classical and a modern example makes the similarity convincing rather than vague.

Equally important are clear differences. The classical world differed from ours in major ways that you can support with knowledge: slavery was a normal, accepted part of Greek and Roman society, whereas it is rejected today; political and legal rights belonged only to a minority (free citizen men), where modern democracies give wide rights, including to women; and the roles open to women were far more limited. Picking a sharp, well-evidenced difference, such as the acceptance of slavery, and explaining it briefly, is far stronger than a list of vague contrasts.

Comparison is not just listing likenesses and differences; the evaluative questions want you to use them to reach a view. After weighing genuine similarities against genuine differences, you give a clear conclusion that answers the exact question, for example that the classical and modern worlds differ greatly in their structures (slavery, limited rights) but share many underlying human values (family, loyalty, hospitality, heroism). The conclusion should follow naturally from the comparisons you have made, showing the marker that your judgement is supported.

Give one genuine similarity between the classical and modern worlds, with an example. [2 marks]

Give one clear difference, with support. [2 marks]

Why is a vague comparison unlikely to score? [2 marks]