EDUC 102 - Contributions of Ancient Societies/Civilizations to Contemporary Education

Pre-Literate Societies (7000BC - 5000BC)

Educational Goals: To teach survival skills, teach group harmony

Students: Children

Instructional Methods: Informal, children imitate adults

Curriculum: Practice hunting, fishing, songs, poems, dances

Agents: Parents, tribal leaders, religious leaders

Influence on education: Informal, transmission of skills

Chinese (3000BC - 1900AD)

Educational Goals: Prepare elites to govern the empire according to Confucian principles

Students: Males of the upper class

Instructional Methods: Memorization and recitation

Curriculum: Maxims and doctrines of ethical and political nature

Agents: Government officials

Influence on education: Written examinations for civil service

Early Hindu/Indian (3000BC - Present)

Educational Goals: To learn behavior and rituals based on the Vedas

Students: Males of the upper castes

Instructional Methods: Memorizing and interpreting sacred texts

Curriculum: Vedas and religious texts

Agents: Brahmin priest scholars

Influence on education: Cultural transmission and assimilation, spiritual detachment

Early Hebrew (1250BC - 70AD)

Educational Goals: Morals, Holiness, Observance of Religion

Instructional Methods: Memorizing and interpreting sacred texts

Curriculum: the Bible, Reading and Writing, Tradition

Agents: Temple, Institutions for lay prophets

Influence on education: Monotheism, Torah

Egyptian Education (3000BC - 300BC)

Educational Goals: To prepare priests according to the scribe for the empire

Students: Males of the upper class

Instructional Methods: Memorization and copying texts

Curriculum: Religious or technical texts

Agents: Priests and scribes

Influence on education: Restriction on educational controls to priest elites

Greek-Athenian (1600BC - 300BC)

Educational Goals: To cultivate civic responsibility

Students: Male children ages 7-20

Instructional Methods: Memorization and recitation in primary schools, lecture, discussion, and dialogue in higher schools

Curriculum: reading, writing, arithmetic, drama, poetry, music

Agents: private teachers, philosophers.

Influence on education: well rounded, liberally educated person.

Greek-Spartan (1600BC - 300 BC)

Educational Goals: To cultivate civic responsibility

Students: Male children ages 7-20

Instructional Methods: Memorization and recitation in primary schools, lecture, discussion, and dialog in higher schools

Curriculum: Drill, military songs, and tactics

Agents: Military teachers

Influence on education: Concept of the military state

Roman Education (750BC - 450AD)

Educational Goals: Develop civic responsibility for the empire, administrative and military skills

Students: Male children ages 7-20

Instructional Methods: Memorization and recitation in ludus; declamation in rhetorical schools

Curriculum: reading, writing, arithmetic, law, philosophy

Agents: Private schools and teachers, schools of rhetoric

Influence on education: practical administrative skills, relate education to civic responsibility

Arabic/Muslim Education (700AD - 1350AD)

Educational Goals: Cultivate religious commitment to Islamic beliefs; expertise in mathematics, medicine, and science

Students: Male children of the upper class, ages 7-20

Instructional Methods: Memorization and recitation in primary schools, imitation and discussion in higher schools

Curriculum: Reading, writing, arithmetic, religious literature, scientific studies

Agents: Mosques, court schools

Influence on education: Arabic numerals and computation; medicine and science materials

Medieval Education (500AD - 1400AD)

Educational Goals: Develop religious commitment, knowledge, and ritual; establish social order, prepare for appropriate roles

Students: Male children of the upper class, girls, and women entering a religious community, ages 7-20

Instructional Methods: Memorization and recitation in lower schools, text analysis discussion in higher schools and universities

Curriculum: Athens: reading, writing, arithmetic, philosophy, theology, military, and chivalry

Agents: Parish, chantry, cathedral schools, universities, knighthood

Influence on education: Structure and organization of the university, institutionalization of knowledge, and organization of the university

Renaissance (1350AD - 1500AD)

Educational Goals: Cultivate humanist experts in Greek and Latin classics; prepare people to serve dynastic leaders

Students: Male children of aristocracy and upper class, ages 7-20

Instructional Methods: Memorization and translation, and analysis of Greek and Roman classics. classical literature, poetry, and art

Curriculum: Latin and Greek classical literature, poetry, and art

Agents: Classical humanist educators and schools like lycee, gymnasium, and Latin school

Influence on education: Emphasis on literary knowledge; excellence and style in classical literature; two-track system of schools; Class-a- year practice

Reformation (1500AD - 1600AD)

Educational Goals: Cultivate a commitment to a particular religious denomination, and general literacy

Students: Boys and girls ages 7-12 in vernacular schools, young men of the upper class in humanist schools

Instructional Methods: Memorization drill, indoctrination, catechetical instruction in vernacular schools, translation and analysis of classical literature in humanist schools

Curriculum: Reading, writing, arithmetic, catechism, religious concepts, and rituals. Latin and Greek theology

Agents: Vernacular elementary school for the general public, classical schools for the upper class

Influence on education: Commitment to universal education to provide literacy for everyone; Origins of school systems; Dual track school system based on socioeconomic class and career goals