Roman Education
Posted on 26th December 2020
The lower classes (Plebians) were rarely educated. They only learnt to read and write if their parents already held that ability and could pass it on. If this was the case, they were taught at home.
Daughters were taught to cook, make clothes and anything else that would make them into a good Roman wife.
Boys were taught a trade if their father had a trade.
These trades would include;
Farmer
Merchant
Craftsman
Entertainer
They also received physical training including throwing a spear, fighting with a sword and riding a horse, if one owned a horse.
Children of wealthy parents were formally educated.
Daughters were normally educated in the home, learning to read and write, run a household, sew and play musical instruments.
Sons were often sent to school, where they were taught to read and write and also taught history, maths, geography and Greek studying both Aristotle and Plato.
Wealthy children were also taught to hunt and fish.
With their education, children from wealthy families had many choices in a career including becoming teachers, lawyers or entering government.
Tagged as: Junior Ancient Rome
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