The seven liberal arts (from Latin liberalis "free" and ars "art or principled practice") are a classification of knowledge that dates back to ancient Greece. Liberal arts takes the term art in the sense of a learned skill rather than specifically the fine arts. Such a course of study contrasts with those that are principally vocational, religious, or technical.

Although the term "liberal arts" for an educational curriculum dates back to classical antiquity in the West, the meaning of them has adjusted over time to be expanded upon, with the modern sense of the term usually covering all the natural sciences, formal sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities. They were (and still are) essential for a free person (liberalis) to be educated in, as they were believed to contribute to one's ability to engage in civic life and intellectual discourse. The seven liberal arts are typically divided into two groups: called the trivium and the quadrivium.

Trivium:

a. Grammar: The study of language, including its structure, syntax, and semantics.

b. Logic (or Dialectic): The study of reasoning, argumentation, and critical thinking.

c. Rhetoric: The art of effective communication and persuasive speaking and writing.

Quadrivium:

a. Arithmetic: The study of numbers, quantity, and mathematical operations.

b. Geometry: The study of shapes, sizes, and properties of space.

c. Music: The study of harmony, rhythm, and the mathematical aspects of sound.

d. Astronomy: The study of celestial bodies and their movements.

These seven liberal arts formed the foundation of education in the classical world and were later incorporated into the curriculum of Renaissance education. They were considered the basis for a well-rounded and intellectually capable individual and they prepared students for more advanced studies in fields like philosophy, theology, and the sciences.

Now note, those two last sentences were in the past tense, because for some reason, most modern folks dont know of this classical system. We personally make a special effort to ask most teachers we meet about the Trivium and Quadrivium and they, as modern educators, have usually never heard of them either. So even though this is a timeless foundation, and since this is the very first time you've likely heard of them, ask yourself, why might that be? We are very mixed on conspiracy theories, with some being true and far too many being hot garbage, but we do think there has been an effort to suppress this educational system from the average person - Joe sixpack or Sally soccer mom. There's absolutely been a long effort by the American wrong wing to denigrate the word liberal, when it literally means free. So more on this system and its potential suppression in future insights, because at no time in the past present or future will this system not be a foundationaly important aspect of other educational systems, emphasizing critical thinking, communication skills, a broad base of knowledge, and by far most importantly, allowing any willing individual the ability to teach themselves.