A Child in Ancient Rome
Children in Ancient Rome were usually reared by their mothers until they reached age of seven. After that they accompanied their fathers who taught them to be farmers, craftsmen or soldiers. Children from wealthy families usually went to school and were taught how to read and write. They did not write on paper but on wax tablets. It made it easier to wipe out mistakes.
Very few girls with formal education beyond the age of 12 however teenage boys from rich families usually attended a secondary school known as a grammer school until they reached sixteen. Here they studied Greek, history, Geography and Maths. They also studied the work of great authors such as Plato and Aristotle. Young men also had to learn Oratory or public speaking. This was especially important for those who sought a future career as a politician or a lawyer.
After school children were free to go to the public baths or play games. They played with marbles or rolling hoops sometimes they even used a pigs bladder blown up like a balloon to play football.
Childhood lasted for only a sort period of time in Ancient Rome. Boys could marry at 14 while girls tended to get married from 12 onwards. Marriages were usually arranged by their fathers in order to gain political power or set up business deals. As today, it was customary for the boy to present his future bride with an engagement ring . this was worn on the third finger of the left hand as Romans believed a special nerve ran from this finger to one's heart. the night before her wedding , a young girl would return her bulla( a gold/leather birth charm), to her father and she would then give away all her toys. This was a statement that her childhood was over .
BY DYLAN KELLY
Very few girls with formal education beyond the age of 12 however teenage boys from rich families usually attended a secondary school known as a grammer school until they reached sixteen. Here they studied Greek, history, Geography and Maths. They also studied the work of great authors such as Plato and Aristotle. Young men also had to learn Oratory or public speaking. This was especially important for those who sought a future career as a politician or a lawyer.
After school children were free to go to the public baths or play games. They played with marbles or rolling hoops sometimes they even used a pigs bladder blown up like a balloon to play football.
Childhood lasted for only a sort period of time in Ancient Rome. Boys could marry at 14 while girls tended to get married from 12 onwards. Marriages were usually arranged by their fathers in order to gain political power or set up business deals. As today, it was customary for the boy to present his future bride with an engagement ring . this was worn on the third finger of the left hand as Romans believed a special nerve ran from this finger to one's heart. the night before her wedding , a young girl would return her bulla( a gold/leather birth charm), to her father and she would then give away all her toys. This was a statement that her childhood was over .
BY DYLAN KELLY
Wax Tablet
This was what roman Children wrote on. The pen was called a stylus and mistakes were wiped out when the wax was soft.
Games children played.
This is what a Roman marble looked like. A bit different from our marbles today.
Football
This is a football made from a pigs bladder.
