Growing up Greek : the differing journeys through childhood in ancient Athens and Sparta

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Athens and Sparta were the two most prominent city-states during the 6th and 5th centuriesBCE, but their socio-political systems differed markedly. As a result of such radical differences it could be hypothesised that the childhoods and, in particular, the education andsocialisation of children, would also differ. The aims of this thesis are: 1. to examine the extent and nature of the differences between the childhood experiences of each group of children from the two city-states, Athens and Sparta, in particular the type of education and socialisation system to which each was exposed; and 2. to discern to what extent and in what way the socio-political system of their respective state had an impact on their upbringing and their journey to adult citizen status.To meet this goal, this study consulted the works of ancient writers, the research of contemporary scholars, as well as archaeological and visual evidence when available. Thescarcity of relevant sources, particularly with regard to Sparta, limited the scope of the research to the children of the elite class of citizens. It was also necessary to differentiatebetween the type of education and socialisation offered to boys and girls, as these differed significantly.The method used in this thesis was to construct a list of the attributes which were considered desirable in the character of both male and female 'ideal' citizens of the two states, based on the prevailing economic, social and political establishment of Athens and Sparta. The way in which the child acquired these necessary qualities was tracked from the time of birth andacceptance into the oikos, through the individual educational and socialisation system to which the child was subjected, until final conferral of citizenship.My research concludes that the type of educational systems in Athens and Sparta were indeed different from each other, in their structure, emphasis and in their goals. They also differed in their level of state 'intervention'. Athens provided no state-sponsored system of education for boys and the responsibility for arranging a boy's education rested with the father, while girls were adequately educated in domestic skills within the oikos. Spartan children, on the other hand –both boys and girls – grew up within a system of compulsory state-run education which concentrated heavily on physical training at the expense of literacy. The intervention of the Athenian city-state in the upbringing of her children was minimal, whereas the Spartan city-state dictated every aspect of her children's life.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University