Ancient Greece

Do you know that ancient Greece popularized the barber shops? Do you know that females were said to expose their private parts to drive away storms in the sea? And who ever knew that pornography was derived from the Greeks and actually means “writings of a prostitute”?

Children in the time of the ancient Greece slept in baskets or cradles in the women’s room until seven years old. They start school at this age as well, and are fond of pets, especially dogs. They had balls, rattles, yo-yos, dolls, and animals, created from clay, as their toys.

Schools in ancient Greece are different from each city-state. The Spartan schools in ancient Greece taught their students how to be strong early on. Spartan babies were assessed by the soldiers right after they are born. Babies who seem unhealthy were either taken away to be trained as slaves, or were left to die. Healthy babies were given membership in either a brotherhood or a sisterhood. The brotherhood serves as military camps for Spartan boys who turn 7 years old. They were taught their basic survival skills until they’re 14 years old. To train them to be tough men, they were provided with little clothing except shoes. They were not given comfortable sleeping quarters and were offered inadequate food. They go through a fitness test between the ages 18-20. Those who fail were deprived of political rights and were stripped of their citizenship. Those who passed were made to serve in the military until the age of 60. Ancient Greece was not any kinder to the girls. They too were trained in their sisterhood to be tough women so they may be able to bear healthy children later on. They too had to go through a fitness test at age 18 and were shunned from the society if they failed. Those who passed were assigned a husband and were permitted to return to their homes.

The Athenian schools in ancient Greece were totally different from that of the Spartans. The mothers taught their children until they were 7 years old. Those from wealthy families were sent to school. Students were taught basically the things that the schools today do. Boys who reach 14 went on to a higher school for another four years. Those who turn 18 went off to the military school and graduate at the age of 20.

Marriage is as diverse as the education was. Athenians celebrated it like a big thing with the bride not seeing the groom until the wedding day. Spartans do not fuss over marriage. After a brief marriage rite, the couple continues to meet secretly until the man turns 30, at which he is allowed to live with his wife.

It’s amazing that ancient Greece thrived for a long time in a highly-diversified setting.