H.I. Marrou’s A History of Education in Antiquity, Part XX (Ad Navseam, Episode 213)

About this episode

The episode discusses the evolution of education from the Hellenistic era to Roman times, focusing on the role of mentorship and the transition from childhood to adulthood.

When you're feeling blue, all you have to do, is take a listen here, then you're not so blue. Why? We've got a Marrouvy kind of show. This week Jeff and Dave wrap up Part II of this portion of the book (and you might be say, "well it's about tome!") Tune in to learn all about how music iand gymnastics began to fade, and language study and literature became dominant. The Hellenistic era formed a bridge to Roman education, and while we might have a certain fondness for the wonder years of childhood – thank you Fred Savage, Danica McKellar, and Jason Hervey – the Greeks saw things quite differently. Childhood was simply a precursor for adulthood, and the whole purpose of education was to lead the youngster out of his unformed stage into the full-blown, mature adult toward which nature aimed. This took place not so much through school, but by the careful mentorship of a paedagogus, that man who led the child to and from school and taught him all the ropes. In this way, Isocrates triumphed over Plato, rhetoric over philosophy, and poetry was never completely banished from the culture. Homer reigned supreme an dclassical humanism was thoroughly traditional. Be sure also to sign up for…

People in this episode

Hosts: Jeff, Dave

Topics covered

• education in antiquity
• Hellenistic era
• Roman education
• childhood and adulthood
• mentorship
• classical humanism

Keywords

• education
• Hellenistic
• Roman
• mentorship
• classical humanism
• Isocrates
• Plato
• Aristotle
• childhood

Sponsors

Hackett

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: A History of Education in Antiquity, Aristotle

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