DIDACTIC UNIT 6. 6TH COURSE. AT SCHOOL. SCHOOL IN GREECE AND IN ROME (READING)

Was school in ancient Greece similar to our school?

Read this text and you´ll know about it.

THE ANCIENT GREEKS

  The Ancient Greeks lived in small towns at the base of a fortified rock, called an acropolis. Every 

town had a market and a meeting place called an agora. People went shopping, met their friends or 

discussed the organisation of their city at the agora. The important buildings such as the temples, 

gymnasiums, council halls, fountain houses and theatres were around the agora.


  Greek men went to work very early in the morning. After their day´s work, they did the shopping 

for the family, went to a gymnasium or visited their friends. Then they went home for the evening 

meal.
  In Ancient Greek families the women stayed at home and looked after the children. Their job was 

to organise the home. Rich families had slaves and the women taught them to do the housework. A

woman did not express opinions or attend meetings with her husband and his friends.


  Boys went to school until they were 15. They learnt reading, writing and counting. They learnt 

counting with an abacus. They also learnt music and poetry. Girls learnt at home from their mothers 

or their slaves. Girls learnt how to read and write, how to play a musical instrument, dance, cook and 

organise a home.

THE ANCIENT ROMANS

  The city of ancient Rome had lots of buildings, such as the Colosseum and the Pantheon. It also had

 theatres, gymnasiums, libraries, shops and market-places. The Romans brought fresh water to the 

city with aqueducts. The aqueducts took the water to the fountains and the bath houses.


  Agriculture and trade were the most important aspects of the economy. Mining activities provided metal and stone to construct the buildings in the city.


  The father of the family was the head of the household and had great power. He was free to force a 

marriage or a divorce, sell his children as slaves, take their property or even kill a family member.


  In the early Roman Republic, boys studied at home with their fathers. Later both boys and girls 

attended the new schools to learn reading, writing and counting. Poor people´s children did not go to 

school at all.

  Young boys practised sports such as wrestling, boxing, riding, javelin –throwing or swimming. 

Girls did not take part in outdoor activities.

Now that you know basic facts about culture and education in Greece and Rome you can compare them.