Education in the Ancient Greek Civilization—Lessons from the Past

Abstract

Looking into the past for framing the prospects of a bright and happy future is always decided in the present. Despite its significance, the present is always dependent on the lessons learned from the past. This is true in every aspect of the human life; hence, education system is no exception to this rule. Today, every education system is subservient to the history of education. Therefore, for a better tomorrow, the human family needs to peep into the past, and mould the future in the light of the human experiences. With this philosophical approach the present study is carried out to explore the nature and structure of the education system of the ancient Greek Civilization with a view to extract some lessons from the past for the modern era. The objectives are to highlight the philosophical approach of the ancient Greeks towards the: aims, curriculum, methodology, and learning environment in their system of education; and to pinpoint the practicable lessons for the 21st century globalized context. The methodology adopted for the study is historical cum analytical. The most authentic sources were consulted to explore the very nature and structure of the education system of the ancient Greeks including such factors as the: aims, curriculum, methodology, and learning environment. After thorough investigation some pertinent lessons in the form of recommendations for the 21st century are also presented as a conclusion.