Secondary education Roman Empire

mosaic pompeii depicting academy of plato

at age of 14, upperclass males made rite of passage adulthood, , began learn leadership roles in political, religious, , military life through mentoring senior member of family or family friend. higher education provided grammatici or rhetores. grammaticus or grammarian taught greek , latin literature, history, geography, philosophy or mathematics treated explications of text. rise of augustus, contemporary latin authors such vergil , livy became part of curriculum. rhetor teacher of oratory or public speaking. art of speaking (ars dicendi) highly prized marker of social , intellectual superiority, , eloquentia ( speaking ability, eloquence ) considered glue of civilized society. rhetoric not body of knowledge (though required command of references literary canon) mode of expression , decorum distinguished held social power. ancient model of rhetorical training— restraint, coolness under pressure, modesty, , humour —endured 18th century western educational ideal.

in latin, illiteratus (greek agrammatos) mean both unable read , write , lacking in cultural awareness or sophistication. higher education promoted career advancement, particularly equestrian in imperial service: eloquence , learning considered marks of well-bred man , worthy of reward . poet horace, instance, given top-notch education father, prosperous former slave.

urban elites throughout empire shared literary culture embued greek educational ideals (paideia). hellenistic cities sponsored schools of higher learning expression of cultural achievement. young men rome wished pursue highest levels of education went abroad study rhetoric , philosophy, 1 of several greek schools in athens. curriculum in east more include music , physical training along literacy , numeracy. on hellenistic model, vespasian endowed chairs of grammar, latin , greek rhetoric, , philosophy @ rome, , gave teachers special exemptions taxes , legal penalties, though primary schoolmasters did not receive these benefits. quintilian held first chair of grammar. in eastern empire, berytus (present-day beirut) unusual in offering latin education, , became famous school of roman law. cultural movement known second sophistic (1st–3rd century ad) promoted assimilation of greek , roman social, educational, , aesthetic values, , greek proclivities nero had been criticized regarded time of hadrian onward integral imperial culture.