Ancient+Greek+Education

Education of the Ancient Greeks

In ancient Greece school was a privilege. It was not legally mandatory to attend. Although paintings on vases that date back to 500 B.C. prove to us that schooling was found all over, but not for all. In ancient Greek times, both boys and girls could attend school but separately. Like some schools today, the schools were divided in to some being for boys and others designated for girls ([|Discovery Channel]). Surprisingly the education system differed in Sparta and Athens. Greek’s education is relative to ours today and their influence on our current educational system is incredible.

In Athens, they had a very specific goal to produce educated citizens who had skill in the arts and who could aid in the preparation of citizens for not only war but peace as well. Unfortunately, the poor did not get the opportunity to even attend school ([|history link]). Prior to the age of six, boys were taught the basics of things by their mothers or a male slave. Even in ancient Greece they had private schools, as when a boy was around six to fourteen he attended a primary or private school within their neighborhood. Following primary school, like our colleges today, they attended four more years of schooling. This was then followed by two years of military school. Usually the men graduated around the age of twenty. Meanwhile, in ancient Sparta, they had a different goal in mind for their students. Sparta was more focused on their military and discipline, so the hope in what this education would result in was a strong and well-disciplined army. Spartan conditions were very brutal. At a baby’s birth, a soldier would come and inspect the baby and if it didn’t appear to be healthy enough to meet their standards, they would take the baby and leave it to die somewhere such as a hillside. If the soldier chose not to kill them but still deemed the baby to be unhealthy or not strong enough, they would capture it and raise it to be a slave. At the sudden age of six, boys were sent to military school. The conditions were also brutal with regular beatings as a punishment. There were many differences between education for males in Athens and Sparta ([|Education in Ancient Greece]).\

Girls had it much different than boys when it came to education. In Athens where they weren’t so military oriented, girls were unfortunately uneducated. They missed out on huge opportunities in life; instead they stayed and worked at home. Many of them were fortunate enough to learn to read and write within their own home or courtyard ([|Education in Ancient Greece]). Although not as commonly as boys got an education, some girls did in a separate school from the boys ([|Discovery Channel]). It was in Sparta that girls got an official education. In Sparta, where they are more disciplined, girls attended school at the age of six or seven. They also lived and slept in barracks along with other girls. It is not clear whether the girl’s schooling was as cruel as the boys. At the age of eighteen, girls were allowed to return home if they pass a final test ([|Education in Ancient Greece]).

Boys were taught differently in Athens and Sparta. Athens was a little easier going and obviously believed in war, but also peace. During primary or private school, boys learned most of the material orally and through memorization. This was due to the lack of books because of their cost being so high. As a result, most instruction was oral and memorization was a normal way of learning. For learning aid their supplies consisted of writing tablets and rulers. It was part of the primary school’s curriculum to learn two extremely important things. One was to learn the words of a famous Greek epic poet, Homer. It was up to their teacher, who was always male, to pick what other subjects to teach. Other common subjects that were taught were government, art, public speaking, drama, reading, writing, math, and the use of a Greek instrument such as the flute. School in Sparta was very different, especially since it was no ordinary school; it was a military school that they were to attend. In military school, the boys lived in barracks. Military school was not very tolerant. They were very disciplinary as they were beaten if the rules were not followed. They were taught skills such as survival and others necessary to become an outstanding soldier. They also had regular educational school courses, but that was not their main focus. Having not been fed well, the boys were told that it was alright for them to steal as long as they did not get caught. Being a Spartan, that is basically what you lived by. The boys learned to adapt after a while and came out as strong soldiers, only if they pass their final test on physical ability, knowledge and leadership skills that is ([|Education in Ancient Greece]).

For the girls of Sparta, their educational experience was not as brutal as the boys but much different than today in many aspects. Just like the boys, the girls stayed in barracks at their school from the early age of six years old. Gymnastics, wrestling, and combat skills were taught to the girls. It is believed by some historians that girls were trained or attempted to be trained in similar ways to the Spartan boys. The goal was for the girls to be as trained and skilled as the boys. This was also believed to have been done because they believed that stronger babies would be produced if the woman was also strong. Just like the boys, at the age of eighteen the woman were released but they as well had to pass a test in order to return back to their normal status. If they did not pass, their citizenship would be revoked and they would have to return as middle-class. Sparta was unique due to the traditions where woman would be indoors most of the time. They had very little freedom to even go next door, whereas in Sparta the women had quite a sufficient amount of freedom ([|Education in Ancient Greece]).

Without the ancient Greeks, our school system or learning style may not have been achievable. With the advancement and additional obtained knowledge today, we used the ancient Greek’s forms and ways of education as building blocks for our own success in an educational system. College and university are essential parts of society today to become successful and make advancement to obtain more necessary knowledge. That would not be possible if it were not for the ancient Greeks and their own original version of college. That opened up many doors for so many people and society.

It is quite fascinating to know that our success and place that society is at today was influenced and dates back to the times of the Ancient Greeks. Many things have been changed over the years with the system and content but the main concept remains the same. This is important because it reflects on us today as a society and how where we are today came along. Thanks to the ancient Greeks we have brought success and fairness among ourselves ([|Education in Ancient Greece]).

Works Cited

"Education – Ancient Greece – Discovery Channel.” //Discovery Channel International//. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. <[]>. “Education, Athens vs Sparta.” //Ancient Greece for Kids//. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. <[]>. "Rymer, Eric. "Education in Ancient Greece." //Historylink//. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. <[]>. Senker, Cath. “Education And Learning.” //Everyday Life In Ancient Greece//. 36-37. Print.