by Alicia Black

Created on: December 08, 2008

Humans have come a long way since they learned how to write on cave walls and start fires to keep warm. As years go by humans have continued to learn more and more. With the ability to talk and write they have been able to educate themselves as well as other people on math, reading, and philosophy. We have taken in a lot from different cultures including the Ancient Greeks. Ancient Greece flourished for many years. The culture invented new gadgets and gave us spectacular art as well as pondering questions on the universe and religion. It may have something to do with the fact that they were able to teach children and young adults, helping to ensure a healthy stable civilization.

Ancient Greece began around 1100 BC and lasted until about 146 BC when the Romans finally conquered Greece. This thousand year reign provided the foundation of the Western civilization(Europe). Education was right up there on the list.

There were two very different types of education that were included in Greece during this time. Athens and Sparta were both recognized as Ancient Greece, but had very different ways of teaching their citizens. In Athens education for the children began at age seven and would last until they were twenty. Girls were not allowed to go to school. The purpose of females in Athens was to be a domestic house wife who cleaned and bred. They were taught how to these jobs by their mothers in their own homes. It was believed that if the girls learned how to read they would become spoiled.

Wealthy boys who were younger than seven were home schooled by a paldagogos (a male slave who worked for the family). These men would accompany the boys during the day. The classes were held in their private corridors.

Up until the fifth century BC there were only private schools that held about fifteen students. These institutions were usually owned by the teacher himself and would in fact ask for a healthy amount for tuition. This made it almost next to impossible for any one but the wealthy to receive a proper education. Students used a wax covered board with a stylus to carve letters into the wax. When they were finished they were able to smooth over the wax and write again. The private tutor would teach reading, writing, basic math, music, and physical activities. When a student reached the age of eighteen they were then required to join the army for two years. Athens believed that a proper education would prepare a citizen for both war and peace.

The wealthy students would continue

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