During this period, there was no formal education in the modern concept. Education was offered in the temple, the King's palace and the family. Children were offered non-formal learning of agricultural and social skills in the context of the extended family social norms. The temple provided for boys a broader framework of socialization and intellectual quality highly valued by the society. The aims of the monastic education were essentially ethical and religious, with literacy as a preparation for the monastic life. Education later became both ecclesiastical and secular. It was organized in the temples for commoners and in individual scholars'houses for princes, princesses and children of the nobles and courtiers. In those days, the monastic schools served well as community schools preparing their pupils for life in society at large.
As for girls, they were given no formal education at that time. In the ordinary households, girls were taught the arts of handicraft, weaving, sewing, cooking and helping in the fields. In royal circles, the Inner Palace became a school for women and girls and many people sent their daughters to live in the palace so that they could gain some kind of education in craft and etiquette.
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