2. In the beginning...
Adam got the very first lesson,
from God: break the law and you
pay the price.
Or, in the beginning...
Before there were written words (the
Pre-literate era), everything humans learned
was passed on by word-of-mouth.
3. 3000 B.C. Egyptian "temple
schools”
Priests teach religion,
writing and sciences.
2000 B.C. First formal schools in
China.
Throughout much of the
imperial period, only educated
people held positions of social and
political leadership.
4. 1500 B.C.
Priests in India teach
religion, writing, philosophy,
sciences.
850 B.C.
Homer's Illiad & Odyssey appear,
educating about Greek history and
mythological gods. In Greece, mostly free
men (non-slaves) have access to teachers.
5. 550 B.C.
Confucius, revered Chinese teacher and
philosopher. Much of Chinese society today is based
on his teachings of basic morality. Emphasized
importance of goodness, kindness, generosity,
respect for elders, etc.
400 B.C.
Sophists, wandering teachers in Greece, taught
people how to argue through logic. Great philosopher
Socrates teaches in public squares to anyone who will
listen/argue. He puts higher value on finding "truth," rather
than simply winning arguments, and encourages people to
think for themselves.
6. 387, 355 B.C.
Plato & Aristotle establish schools in Athens.
Plato's school called the "Academy." Both schools focus on
truth. Plato writes The Republic, outlines his vision of
perfect society and education based on social standing.
100 B.C.
Organized education curriculum Romans named Cicero
and Quintilian have ideas that are still in use today's
Western society. Cicero says that education should be
broad in arts & sciences. Quintilian says education should
be based on student's ability to learn.
7. 0 B.C./A.D.
Jesus teaches in Jerusalem. He often
used spiritually significant fictional narratives
called parables to illustrate his teachings.
105 A.D.
Paper is invented in China. This
paper was probably uses mulberry bark,
making the paper on a mold of bamboo
strips.
8. 500-1500 A.D.
Is called "The Middle Ages" in Western culture. It is an
era of slower progress, but steps in education still occur. In
"writing rooms," monks copy important texts by hand. The
Catholic Church has great influence over teachings throughout
this period.
Priests teach religion, writing, sciences.
500 A.D.
Nalanda, great Buddhist university in India,
home to over 10,000 students. Largest "resident"
place of learning in history at the time. Subjects
included religious study, as well as philosophy,
grammar, medicine.
9. 999 A.D.
Avicenna, Iranian leading thinker on medicine
writes The Canon of Medicine. This work and others by Arab,
North African, and Spanish thinkers has great impact on
European education ideas.
1000 A.D.
Arabic learning. Europeans learn an
Arabic number system, still used in the West
today.
Priests teach religion, writing, sciences.
10. 1100 A.D.
Scholastics, a movement that helped
bridge differences between purely religious
teachings and philosophical and scientific
thinking.
1150-1250
"Modern" universities founded. 1150,
Paris/Sorbonne. 1209, Cambridge. 1249, Oxford. St.
Thomas Aquinas, a Catholic theologian, works with the
concepts of the Scholastics at Paris. Universities begin
offering degrees in variety of subjects.
11. 1450
Printing press invented. This
development begins improvement in literacy as
access to books is easier, but still easy for most
people.
1499
Desiderius Erasmus, Dutch teacher,
begins researching ancient documents.
Advises teachers in Europe to think about
literature, not just read or memorize it.
12. 1500
The Renaissance through 17th century. Period of renewed
interest in learning begins. Italy is especially active during this time.
More women begin to pursue education, although it is still out of reach
for most men and women. Many important texts in mathematics
translated into useable language, aiding study and development of
science.
1517
Reformation begins literacy improves. Because
they are able to read, some question the authority of the
Pope. Bible printed in local languages creates increased
literacy. Reformers start schools where people are taught
basic subjects in their native languages.
13. 1592
Shakespeare's plays begin in England. Theater is a
place where philosophical ideas could be taught from the
stage, helping illiterate audience members grow and think.
1609
Censorship in education. Galileo invents
telescope, announces the Sun is the center of the
universe, and is denounced by Catholic Church as a
danger to the faith. He is ordered not to teach his
findings.
14. 1620s
Slide rule is invented, math is
made easier.
1659
Comenius writes first picture book for
children. The Czech educator travels
northern Europe encouraging teachers to
make the classroom more interesting for
children.
15. 1690
The mind is a blank slate. English poet & philosopher
John Locke argues that we are born with blank minds, and
education should gradually develop them-thus education
should begin in early childhood.
1770s
Importance of education for all.
Americans Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin
Franklin advise of education's importance for
all citizens of a new nation.
16. 1799
First "modern" elementary school. Johann
Pestalozzi, a Swiss educator, starts establishing schools
throughout Switzerland and Germany that use "object
lessons," the senses, and expression to help children
learn.
1837
First Kindergarten opened by
Friedrich Froebel as a place where small
children can grow and learn before
entering elementary school.
17. 1862
The King & I. Anna Leonowens
takes Western education ideas to children
in the Royal palace of Thailand.
1880s
"Evolution" radically changes education.
Darwin's theories of evolution, pushed forward into
education by Herbert Spencer, continue to have
believers and detractors today..
18. 1905
First standardized test of
intelligence. Developed by Alfred
Binet
1920s
Emphasis on early childhood learning. Italian
Maria Montessori develops methods still in use, teaching
very young children basics of life in practical, sensory, and
formal skills. Her ideas influence kindergartens and pre-
schools.
19. 1951
Television as teacher. Jack
LaLanne educates Americans about the
importance of fitness everyday for 34
years.
1960s
Multi-media hits the
classroom. Slide and filmstrip
projectors, and tape players are
common.
20. 1969
Sesame Street debuts. The ongoing children's
education program features puppets and people
teaching basics of reading, moral lessons, and
music.
1970s
Electronic math calculators make
educators fear many students will forget
how to do basic math. History is proving
them right.
21. Early 1980s
Television in the classroom. The
availability of cheap VCRs makes video
learning common.
1980s
Community colleges and "tech"
schools popular. Perfect for people want
advanced education without enrolling in
universities.
22. Late 1980s
Computers come to school.
Models by Apple and IBM begin to be
seen in schools, but it's a while before
they're useful to most students.
1989
Students silenced The Chinese
government uses military force to stop
student protests for democracy in
Tiananmen Square. Hundreds of civilians and
students die.
23. 1991
Charter schools. Some schools passed a
law allowing schools that don't follow the
standard curriculum.
then…
24. Late 1990s
The Internet changes everything.
The development of the Internet makes
instant information and communication
available to anyone in the world with a
connection. Content develops quickly,
and research is available on any virtually
any topic. E-learning courses develop,
allowing students to learn and even gain
a university degree "online."
26. …education began on man's first day on earth.
However, until relatively recent times, formal
education was only for the rich or the very lucky. In
many "developing" parts of the world, that is still the
case. While most nations strive to provide education to
the masses, many still struggle with the basics of
survival.
