Roman Education Olivia Visaggio Latin Mr Espinal Background

Roman Education Olivia Visaggio Latin Mr. Espinal

Background on Rome as a Republic, from 509 BC to 27 BC, was when Rome did not have a single ruler or leader. The Roman Empire, from 27 BC to 476 AD, was when an emperor ran Rome’s government.

Rome as a Republic and an Empire

Progression of Roman Education progressed from a familial system in the Republic to a tuition-based and two-tiered system in the late Republic and early Empire. Education reached its final form in the Empire since formal schools were created. Both boys and girls were educated, but not necessarily together and they did not learn the same material.

Education During the Republic In the familial system, the parents taught their children necessary survival skills, such as domestic and agricultural skills. The civic and moral responsibilities of the Roman citizens were stressed during this time. Vir bonus, which is Latin for “good man, ” was an important quality. The boys learned Roman history, law, and customs from their fathers. The girls learned how to spin, sew, and weave from their mothers.

Education in the Late Republic/Early Empire Around 250 BC, due to the increase of educated Greek slaves, tutors were available, but were used mostly by richer families. Formal schools were established, with the first schools opening in the middle of the fourth century. The schools were called ludi, which is the Latin word for “play, ” and focused on rudimentary education.

Tiers of Schooling Moral Education: education in the home; children learned morals and skills from parents Ludus: primary/elementary education; reading and writing Grammaticus: reading, speaking, and writing skills; boys between ages seven and twelve read and spoke in Greek and Latin Rhetor: final stage in Roman education; few boys went on to this stage Philosophy: final level of education, which was only taught/spoken in Greek; students focused on law and rhetoric

Two-Tier System in the Empire Towards the end of the Republic, the two-tier system began, with two types of schools. One school was for children of ages seven to twelve where they learned how to read, write, and do basic math. They used a stylus and a wax tablet for writing and an abacus for math. The other school was for more advanced students, around the age of sixteen and up, where topics such as oratory and philosophy were taught. Girls rarely went to the advanced schools since they usually got married at the age of twelve. The girls focused on household work and skills.

Stylus and wax tablet (above) Abacus (right)

Education in the Empire Students went to school everyday. However, they had many days off due to religious holidays. They spent sunrise to sunset at school. The Latin word for students is discipulī. It was believed that the school year began on March 24 th in order to honor Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and knowledge. The Latin word for wisdom is sapientia. Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and knowledge

Roman Schools At school, the teachers were not paid well for their long work hours. The Latin word for teacher is magister (masculine) or magistra (feminine). The teachers beat the boys with a cane or a whip if the boys misbehaved or answered a question incorrectly. This created a sense of fear. Girls only learned how to read and write. Whip Cane

Influences on Roman Education Rome’s education system in the Empire focused more on rhetoric and literature due to Rome’s interaction with Greece during the Punic Wars. Rome adapted many aspects of Greek education. Roman culture has resembled Greece’s religion, art, literature, philosophy, and architecture as well.

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