Unit 1 – The Challenge of the Persian Empire This unit will focus on the relations between the Greek city-states, particularly Athens and Sparta, and the Persian empire during the period 492 – 404 BC. (25% of the final A-level). Unit 2 – The Rise of Macedon, c. 359 – 323 BC. This unit looks at the rise of Philip II of Macedon and his son Alexander the Great. It looks at the evolution of the Kingdom of Macedon under their leadership and Alexander’s ultimate conquest of the Persian Empire. (25% of the final A-level). Unit 3 – The breakdown of the Roman Republic, 88 – 31 BC. This unit charts the transition of Rome from a republic to how it became an empire and looks at the role key individuals played in this such as Caesar and Cicero. (25% of the final A-level). Unit 4 – The Julio-Claudian Emperors, 27 BC – 68 AD. This unit examines the development of Imperial Rome under the Emperors Augustus, Tiberius, Gaius, Claudius, and Nero. It focuses particularly on the military, social, religious, and political issues of their reigns and how ancient sources have recorded this. (25% of the final A-level).