Preparing Roman boys for military service was not important to Quintilian. Rather, he wanted men who could develop new ideas and illuminate Rome's future. According to Quintilian, it was important for a child to begin his education at the age of seven: "Some have thought that children, as long as they are under seven, should not be put to learning, because that is the first time." age capable of understanding what is taught and of bearing the strain of learning” (Paragraph 9, Quintilian). The age of seven was considered the age at which children could retain information most efficiently and begin the learning process. The society and culture of both Sparta and Rome were undoubtedly distinct; however, similarities existed between these two