Life in Ancient Greece differed based on gender and social class. For women, those from wealthy families received lessons at home to prepare them for marriage and household duties, often marrying at a young age of 14. They managed the home, children, and slaves, and had little freedom to go out. Poorer women worked outside the home and had more independence. For men, wealthy boys attended school longer to learn reading, writing, music, and athletics, while poorer boys received only basic education. At age 18, men fought in the army for two years and then may pursue further education or work as their fathers did, such as farming. Slavery was also common, with slaves often war captives who worked in homes or

1. EVERYDAY LIFE IN
ANCIENT GREECE

2. Life in Ancient Greece was different for rich and poor, and for men and
women.
Greek citizens were taught that their patriotic duty was to marry and
have children
Slaves with their owner.

3. LIFE FOR WOMEN
In Athens, only girls form rich families had lessons. They didn´t go to
school, but learnt how to read and write at home. They also learnt
music and arithmetic (Maths).
They were given lessons so they could be good housewives.
They often married when they were only 14 years old, but their
husband could be much older tan they were.

4. LIFE FOR WOMEN
Rich women took care of the slaves in their household. Women made
sure that the children were looked after, that meals were cooked, and
spent lots of time weaving and spinning cloth.
They were not allowed to go our of the house very often.
This image on Greek pot shows a
woman spinning.
This image on Greek pot shows
women spinning.

5. LIFE FOR WOMEN
Poorer women had to work hard, with no slaves to help them, but they
had more freedom to go where they wanted. They had to go shopping
and collect water from the wells.

6. LIFE FOR MEN
Rich Athenian boys usually spent much longer at school than girls.
They learnt to read and write. They also had music lessons and plenty
of physical education. Poorer families could not afford to send their
sons to school for long, so they only received a basic education.
This scene from a Greek pot shows a
boy taking a music lesson wit his
teacher. It also shows a student
writing on a tablet.

7. LIFE FOR MEN
At the age of 18 young men had to fight in the army for two years.
Sometimes they went on to further education where they learnt
subjects like mathematics, science and geography.
Men often did the same job as their fathers. Some worked as farmers
or fishermen. Others went to sea as sailors or as oarsmen in the
triremes.
Oarsmen in the triremes.

8. slaves
Slaves were people who had to work for other people without having
any wages (money). They could be sold by their owners to somebody
else.
There were large numbers of slaves un Ancient Greece. They were
often people the Greeks had captured during wars. Some slaves were
owned by families, working in the family home or farm. Many had to
work in the Athenian silver mines.
Working in these mines was dirty and very dangerous. Silver from the
mines was used to make Athenian coins.