What Education Looked Like for These 5 Ancient Societies

There is not a ton of evidence of what education looked like in ancient society, but we do know it existed - although not for everyone.

By Sara Novak
Nov 12, 2024 4:00 PM
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(Credit: Uladzimir Zuyeu/Getty Images)

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Today, kids are expected to spend much of their day in school. Learning is divided into grades and separated by age and aptitude. But it hasn’t always been this way. Education wasn't always required, and in fact, many kids carried on the jobs their parents had instead of learning how to read and write. What and how one learned depended on one's place in society.

In ancient times, much like today, education was highly valued. Subjects could range from reading and writing to philosophy and ethics. There have only been a few pieces of evidence to help us understand how ancient people taught their children. But we do know what they were taught and who in society had access to the teachings. Here's what education looked like in these five ancient societies.

1. Mesopotamia

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