Science and Education in the ancient world.
History of Western Civilization
Liberty University
HIEU 201 B08
Science and Education in the ancient world.
Ancient civilization had to overcome a vast number of challenges to advance the lives of
the population and to ensure its survival. One of the most crucial elements of a civilization’s
survival was its ability to educate the people and continue to protect their way of life.
Development of technology and a focus on scientific advances greatly incensed the opportunities
of the society to grow. Knowledge in the ancient world was held in such high regard the Spartans
would not trust the teaching for anyone but their own and the Romans promoted reading and
writing, but both cultures used this way of life to shape a way of life that was completely against
a Biblical world view. My focus will be the advances in the areas of science and education of
ancient Greece and Rome, also their shortcomings from a Biblical point of view between the
periods of 3000 BC through 476 AD.
In the ancient world most of the people did not receive a formal education. Education was
a privilege reserved for a select few, even many kings and royalty were often illiterate. This issue
was addressed by a special class of people called scribes. Scribes were to begin their training
around the age of seven if they demonstrated the aptitude, their training consisted of writing and
reading. Advanced students would learn lessons in mathematics and other forms of reading that
consisted with literature. Students that were found to be inattentive or having a difficult time
would be motivated using corporal punishment. Many of the students that have success in their