Synopses & Reviews
This book is a comprehensive, thematic survey of the history of education throughout the world, from ancient times to the present day. Education in World History analyzes patterns of religious and cultural influence in classical societies, as well as the ways in which conquest, trade and cross-cultural contacts helped to shape educational change in post-classical societies.
From Confucius, through to the Greeks and the Egyptians, Mark S. Johnson first takes an integrated look at ancient education, and the development of various education traditions. Considering the ways in which early modern states and religious movements helped to shape ethnic, religious and national identities through increasingly formal institutionalized education, he then examines how colonialism influenced education in the modern era. Finally, the volume goes on to discuss the rise of vocationalism, the decline - in some places - of religious education, and the effects of globalization on education.
Suitable for introductory courses and students new to the subject, this concise and lively study reconsiders the history of education from the perspective of world and comparative history.
Synopsis
Education in World History shows how broad currents in transnational history have interacted with trends in educational organization and teaching practices over time.
From antiquity and early Classical societies to present day, this book highlights the ways in which changes in religious and intellectual life and economic patterns in key world regions have generated developments in education. Since the postclassical period, cross-cultural connections have also influenced educational change. In more recent times, transnational dialogues and mobility have played a vital role in shaping educational patterns. Ranging through South and East Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, the book also considers how the impact of modern forces, such as industrialization and nationalism, have transformed education in fundamental ways. Throughout the volume, Mark S. Johnson and Peter N. Stearns emphasize the tensions between elite and state educational interests and more diverse popular demands for access and, often, for more innovative pedagogy.
Suitable for introductory world history and history of education courses, this lively overview reconsiders the history of education from the perspective of world and comparative history.