CHUCHUK GROUP OLOLO

PARAPHRASING
Did sons and daughters get the same
Education in Ancient Greece

Author: Supervisor:
Umetaliev Aktan Stanislav Savinov

September 17, 2023

 In ancient Greece, there existed a distinction in the education provided to boys and girls.
Boys attended formal schools where they engaged in both mental and physical exercises. On the
other hand, girls received their education at home, lacking a structured system. During the fifth
century BC, Greece boasted of having the finest education in the world, according to some of its
most prominent thinkers. Isocrates, among these intellectual luminaries, extolled a particular
form of education known as "paideia." This term referred to an educational system designed to
cultivate boys with strong moral values and readiness for roles in politics and the military.
Classical Greece, during this period, restricted citizenship to males, making paideia exclusively
tailored for them. As the male populace underwent this educational journey and assumed
significant roles in society, the female population predominantly remained within the confines of
their homes.

The idea of paideia had its origins in ancient Greece's archaic period and evolved
gradually over time. Its core principles revolved around reverence for the Gods, respect for
parents, and hospitality towards strangers. Central to paideia was the concept of "arete," a fusion
of military prowess and moral integrity drawn from Homer's works, the Odyssey and Iliad. In the
fifth century, a new breed of educators emerged known as the Sophists. They offered instruction
not only in rhetoric and philosophy but also in arete, and they advocated for advanced education
for youths aged sixteen and above. This marked a departure from traditional methods.
Importantly, paideia extended beyond Athens and became ingrained in a broader Greek cultural
context, transcending variations in education found in neighboring regions like Sparta, where the
focus remained primarily on molding formidable warriors.

In the fifth century, during their early years, both daughters and sons would typically
remain at home, overseen by female relatives, as their fathers were often occupied with public or
military duties. Around the age of six or seven, boys would embark on their educational journey,
departing for informal schoolrooms. These educational establishments lacked public
organization and funding; instead, families bore the responsibility for their children's learning.
The educational process for boys revolved around two key figures: a paidagog, an elder
responsible for accompanying and guiding the young boys, and schoolmasters who instructed in
subjects such as grammar, music, and physical education. Its worth noting that these subjects
held broader significance in ancient Greece compared to modern interpretations. For instance,
grammar encompassed arithmetic, literature, and ethics. For most boys, their education
concluded around the age of sixteen, although some had the opportunity to continue their studies
under the guidance of Sophist teachers. Interestingly, it wasn’t uncommon for teacher-student
relationships to take on a sexual dimension, a practice tacitly accepted by society, albeit without
official endorsement. Among wealthier Athenians, education typically ceased around the age of
18, coinciding with their enlistment into military service.

Conversely, Sparta, the neighboring state, established a state-controlled educational

program called agoge, which prioritized military training and survival skills. While Greece
adhered to a strict gender-based segregation in education, Sparta uniquely fostered an
environment where both boys and girls received joint training. Nonetheless, even within Greece,
there existed a few instances of women who excelled in their education, eventually pursuing
careers as poets or educators. In contemporary universities, one can discern the enduring
principles of paideia. These principles evolved over centuries, integrating with Christianity and
its global dissemination, ultimately serving as the cornerstone of the modern Western education
system.