The Roman system of education constantly evolved over the
centuries, as result of Roman military expansion and the
inevitable influence of surrounding cultures – the most
influential being the Greek system of knowledge and teaching. In
conjunction to Greek, or Hellenistic, influence, the Romans
remained loyal to their original system of education and
continued to value its practical uses. The Romans always
considered how knowledge attained by students could be applied
to everyday situations and how it would be of use in their
society; dismissing much of what they considered unimportant or
worthless education. The objectives of Roman education varied
according to which jobs were desired and attainable for each
social class – with the poorer receiving a minimal amount of
education to prepare them for trade or merchant jobs and the
more rich continuing on with expensive schooling to attain the
most admired Roman position – that of an orator. Education in
Rome was divided into three levels – that of the litterato