Historical Foundations of

Education
(Primitive, Sumerian and Early Egyptian Education)

JUN PEREZ DALISAY, RGC, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor IV
Lesson 1 - Primitive
Education
 Primitive Education
Aims of Primitive Education
1.Security and Survival ( natural phenomenon; fierce, wild and
poisonous animals; evil spirits; hunger; other hostile tribes)
2.Conformity – social approval for the interest of the whole
group.
3.Preservation and transmission of traditions
Types of Education
1.Vocational – includes learning the skills in procuring basic
necessities in life like hunting, constructing a hut, etc.
2.Religious (animistic) – consisted in learning how to
participate in ritualistic practices to please or to appease the
unseen spirits roaming around.
Content to be Studied
1.Ways of procuring the basic necessities in life and
protecting life from dangers.
2.Superstitions – included was how to worship before
the dwelling of an unseen spirit such as big tree, big
rock, a river, a big bush.
Agencies of Education
1.Home – center of learning especially for the young.
The young learned much at home because the home is
the center of activity.
2.Environment – provided the primitive people a very
good place for learning. This is true to informal
education. For instance, if one happened to step on a
thorn and got hurt, he now became careful not to step
on thorn.
Methods of Instruction
1.All instruction was done informally.
2.Observation and imitation.
3.Simple telling and demonstration.
4.Participation.
Organization of grades
Financing
Outstanding Contribution to Education
Sumerian
Education
Aims of Sumerian Education
1.Training of scribes
2.Training of bookkeepers
3.Training of teachers
4.Training the learners to be good
Types of Education
1.Writing education
2.Mathematical education
3.Language education
4.Vocational education
5.Professional education
6.Art education
Content to be Studied
1.Reading, writing, little arithmetic
2.Astronomy
3.Architecture, agriculture and hydraulics
4.Jewelry designing and literary art
5.Vocational training
6.Law
Agencies of Education Method s of Instruction
1.Home 1. Imitation and copying
2.School 2. Preparation of tablets
3.Temple schools
4.Apprentice schools
Organization of Grades
Financing
Outstanding Contribution to Education
Early Egyptian
Education
 Types of Education
1.Religious education
Aims of Egyptian
2.Vocational-professional
Education education
1.Training of scribes
3.Military education
2.Religious 4.Education for public
3.Utilitarian administration
4.Preservation of cultural patterns
5.Priesthood education
6.Home arts education
7.Writing, reading and language
education
Contents to be Studied 5. Subjects in astronomy,
1.Reading, writing and engineering, architecture, physics,
language. medicine, embalming, dentistry and
2.Religious and secular law
literature 6. Music and dancing
3.Artistry in metal and 7. Sports, games and physical
lapidary
education
4.Mathematics
8. Training on the use of bow and
arrow, battle ax, mace and shield
Agencies of Education Methods of Instruction
1.Home 1.Apprenticeship
2.Temple schools 2.Dictation, memorization,
3.Military schools copying, imitation, repetition
4.Court schools 3.Observation and participation
5.Vocational schools
Organization of Grades
Financing
Outstanding Contribution to Education
 Lesson 2
Early Hindu and Chinese
Education
 Early Hindu Education
Castes:
1. Brahmans – the top caste to which belonged the priests, teachers and
intellectual rulers.
2. Kshatriyas – the military caste to which belonged soldiers and warlords.
3. Vaisyas – the merchantile and agricultural class to which belonged the
artisans, shop and storekeeprs, and money handlers.
4. Sudras – the laboring class to which belonged menials or unskilled
workers.
5. Pariahs – the lowest class to which belonged the so-called untouchables
(Outcasts)
Aims of Education Types of Education
1. Intellectual 1. Religious education
2. Religious
2. Intellectual education
3. Cultural
3. Vocational education
4. Domestic education
5. Military education
Content to be Studied
1. Literature for the Brahmans (Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sam
Veda, Atharva Veda, the Angas and the Code of Manu)
2. Astronomy, history, grammar, law, medicine, and
mathematics.
3. Dancing
4. Sports
5. Linguistics, philosophy and theology
6. Military training
Agencies of Education
1. Home
2. Outdoors
3. Monasteries Methods of Education
1. Imitation
2. Memorization
Organization of Grades
Financing
Outstanding Contributions to Education
Early Chinese
Education
Aims of Education
1. Ideological and ethical (moral) learning. (between sovereign
and subject; between father and child; between husband and
wife; between older brother and younger brother/brother –
sister; between older friend and a younger one)
2. Cultural development
3. Civil service
Types of Education Content to be Studied
1. Ideological and moral
education The Classics Four Books
2. Language education 1. Shu King 1. Ta Hsio
3. Vocational and domestic 2. Shi King 2. Chung Yung
education 3. Yi King 3. Lun Yu
4. Civic education 4. Li Ki King 4. Meng-Tze
5. Military education 5. Hsiao King
Agencies of Education Organization of
1. Home Grades
2. Private School 1. Elementary
3. House of teacher or rich 2. Higher education
pupil, a deserted pagoda,
any place

Methods of Instruction
1. The Confucian Method
2. Direct and exact imitation
3. Memorization
Financing
Outstanding Contributions to Education
 Lesson 3
Early Hebrew Education
Early Hebrew
Education
The three great crises in the history of the Hebrews:
1)Their Deliverance or Exodus from Egypt (1250 B.C);
2)The Babylonian Exile or Captivity (586 B.C.); and
3)The Destruction of the Temple of Solomon (70 A.D.) and the
Diaspora. The Diaspora was the dispersion of the Jews.
These ideas, mores, and concepts are:
1)An omnipotent and righteous Creator, God, who selected the
Hebrews as his chosen people;
2)A coming Messiah who would restore the Jewish exceptional
position lost through faithlessness; and
3)Holiness and obedience on the part of the Jews as a
condition of their restoration.
Aims of Education
1.Moral.
2.Preparation for destiny.
3.Holiness. Types of Education
4.Observance of religion. 1. Religious and civic education.
2. Democratic education.
3. Domestic education.
4. Vocational education.
5. Human relations.
6. Physical education.
Content to be Studied
1.History of the Hebrews
2.The Jewish Law or Mosaic Law
3.Psalms and proverbs.
4. Explanations of festivities
5. Music, sacred and common
6. Reading and writing
7. Foreign language
Agencies of Education
1.Home.
Methods of Instruction
2.Public school.
1.Compulsory
3.Temple.
2.Oral
4.Institute for lay prophets.
3.Memorization
5.Schools or colleges for
scribes. 4.Audio-visual aids
5.Exposition
6.Temple worship
Organization of Grade Levels
In the formal elementary instruction, there were three levels:
a. Ages 6-10 – the chief text was the Pentateuch.
b. Ages 10-15 – the chief text was the Mishna, first part of the
Talmud.
c. Over 15 – the chief text was the Gemara, second part of the
Talmud.
The first two levels were compulsory for all male children.
Higher education was for lay prophets, rabbis, and scribes.
Financing
Outstanding Contribution to education and
Humanity
1.Monotheism
2.Ten commandments
3.the Bible
 Lesson4
EARLY GREEK EDUCATION
 Greek education focused heavily on
training the entire person, which
included education of the mind,
body, and imagination.
GREEKS
• Mixture of the Aryan and Germanic peoples, two great races
• They lived in tribal isolation and developed differences
• The first great sportsmen
• Every citizen has a chance to participate in all affairs,
depending upon his qualifications
• Greek cities were totalitarian so they compel any citizen to
serve the state, but they considered it as an honor to serve
their country.
SPARTAN EDUCATION
• Based upon the laws of Lycurgus
• Spartan political, social, and educational system
was based upon the laws of Lycurgus
• A totalitarian soldier state where complete
obedience to the state and rigid discipline
became the ideal, the highest good.
AIMS OF
EDUCATION TYPES OF EDUCATION
1. Military 1. Physical Education
2. Discipline 2. Military Education
3. Moral Training
4. Very little intellectual
training
5. Music education
6. Gymnastic education
AGENCIES OF EDUCATION
The Sate was the sole agency of
education. Every phase was controlled
by the State.
ORGANIZATION OF GRADE LEVELS
1. At birth, weak children were abandoned.
2. At early age, children were taught habits of
silence, obedience, respect and bravery.
3. 7 -18 years, boys lived in barracks- like educational
building were discipline was rigid.
4. 18 – 20 years, the boys undertook the professional
war training
5. 20 – 30 years, all took an oath of allegiance
and dispersed to military posts for war
manoeuvres.
6. At 30, the man was a full pledge citizen,
obliged or compelled to marry and seat in the
assembly or council.
7. The girls stayed at home but they were also
organized into packs to develop group spirit,
courage and loyalty.
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
1. Training – education was training
2. Participation – they learned by doing
3. Testing – for moral life and endurance
4. Discipline
5. Motivation – was enhanced by rivalry and most of
all fear of public disapproval.
Financing – all financing was shouldered by the State.
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION
TO EDUCATION
The most that we can emulate from
the Spartans is military education as we
now have in our schools and the
development of patriotism and
discipline.
EARLY ATHENIAN
EDUCATION
EARLY ATHENIAN EDUCATION

• Under the influence of Solon, one of the greatest

lawmakers of all time
• Body of laws that gave remedial measures to
pressing fiscal, social, and political problem of his
day.
• Laws became the bases for the educational direction
of Athens that brought prosperity to the city – state.
AIMS OF EDUCATION
1. Good citizenship
2. Individual excellence – there was stress on
individual excellence in wisdom, beauty, and
strength for public usefulness.
3. Many-sided development – Athens was the first
state where there was freedom to develop all
human capacities.
TYPES OF EDUCATION
1. Civic training – desire to serve the state
2. Moral training – emphasis on the virtues of
Homeric heroes
3. Physical education – develop grace and harmony
of the body
4. Intellectual education
5. Art, Music, Poetry and Dancing
CONTENT TO BE STUDIED
1. Reading by the alphabet method
2. Writing on wax and tablets
3. Arithmetic for market use
4. Homeric and other poems
5. Music, lyre and flute playing
6. Gymnastic exercise
7. Physical education exercise
8. Military training subjects
AGENCIES OF EDUCATION
1. Private schools – first school for boys
2. Home – girls were taught at home, boys
before 7 were also taught at home
3. State – education was supervised by the
state
 ORGANIZATIONS OF GRADE LEVELS
1. From birth to 7 years, children were taught at home.
2. From 7 to 16 , boys went to schools and girls stayed at home.
a. Didascaleum – a music school that also taught writing,
reading, arithmetic and poetry.
b. Palaestra – Gymnastics, sports and games
3. At 16- 18 boys were already free from literary and musical studies.
4. At 18 boys took the Ephebic Oath, pledge of allegiance to the State.
5. At 20 the boys attained full citizenship.
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
1. Imitation – imitation of a living model.
2. Participation
3. Discipline – was severe. Corporal
punishment was used extensively.
4. Human relations
FINANCING

It was not clear who financed

education but since the schools were
private, it can be assumed that the
pupils or students paid tuition fees.
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION
TO EDUCATION
The outstanding contributions of
Athens to education are the free
development of all human capacities
and the Olympic Games.
LATER ATHENIAN
EDUCATION
 LATER ATHENIAN EDUCATION
• Triumph brought about attitudinal changes
toward education among Athenians.
• Athens, coming in contact with many heads of
cities, traders, travelers, and other foreigners
became cosmopolitan.
• Old ideals merged with new ones.
AIMS OF EDUCATION
• By the Sophists, pragmatic and utilitarian – prepare
for personal advancement, to cultivate the
individual’s public image and excellence for
individual conquest and political preferment.
• By Socrates development of the power of thinking –
enable humanity to arrive at fundamental concepts
or moral principles of the universe, and to establish
that morality is based on knowledge and virtue.
3. By Plato, control by intellectual rulers – to
develop the individual’s natural talents.
4. By Aristotle, rational living – highest
function of the State is to direct society in
the way which effects the greatest good of
mankind whose goal is happiness.
TYPES OF EDUCATION
1. Moral training
2. Professional training – for public speaking
3. Intellectual training – highest form and truth
4. Vocational training – craftsmen and laborers
5. Domestic training – for girls housekeeping
6. Physical, military, and civic training
7. Science and philosophy education- logic
8. Aesthetic and cultural education- literature, grammar, art and
music for enjoyment purposes
9. Sports and games- for enjoyment
CONTENT TO BE STUDIED
1. Lower elementary level – reading, writing,
arithmetic, poetry and gymnastics
2. Higher elementary level – physical and military
exercises, grammar, rhetorics, declamation,
argumentation, and public speaking
3. Secondary schools – geometry, astronomy,
drawing, grammar, and rhetorics
4. Higher level – philosophy, mathematics and science
AGENCIES OF EDUCATION
1. Palaestra – a school where gymnastics, sports and
games were taught by a teacher called paedotribe.
2. Didascaleum – supported to be a music school but
actually it was school of literature in which was taught
poetry accompanied by music. The music teacher
kitharist and the teacher of letters was called
grammatist who taught reading, writing and arithmetic.
3. Gymnasium – used for physical education but later it
assumed a completely intellectual meaning which was
academic secondary school.
4. Two schools of higher learning were developed
after the fifth century.
a. Rhetorical schools – started by the Sophists
(non-Greek traveling scholars who taught for a
fee). These schools prepared young men for a
public career.
b. Philosophical schools – established by philosophers

1. The Socrates School of Philosophy – using inductive

method
2. The School of the Academy established by Plato
3. The School of the Lyceum established by Aristotle
4. The Epicurean School established by Epicurus
5. The University of Athens formed by the fusion of the
Socrates School of Philosophy and the Isocratic of
Rhetorics
Organization of Grade Levels
1. Home education – children from birth to age seven were taught
by slaves.
2. Primary education – children from 7 to 13 were taught in private
schools.
3. Secondary education – children from 13 to 16 were taught also
in private school.
4. Higher schools – 16 upward were taught in rhetorical and
philosophical schools where study was much devoted to literary and
intellectual training.
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
1. Lecture and memorization –advocated practical wisdom and
taught how to argue.
2. Question and answer – also called as Socratic method, forces a
student to think and dispelling of error and the discovery of
truth.
Two forms of Socratic or Dialectic Method:
a. Ironic or destructive – in which interrogation brings the pupil from
unconscious to conscious ignorance.
b. Maieutic or constructive – in which questioning leads a pupil from
unconscious ignorance to a clear and rational truth.
3. Developing of natural talents- advocated by Plato he
believed that man has three traits: intellect, passion and
appetite that should be educated and trained for which he is
suited. For Plato this is justice.
4. Achieving happiness – idea of Aristotle which states that
an individual is able to achieve happiness if his life is guided
by reason. Moderation is one of his most important concepts
to attain happiness. Another is a moral code where he said
that an action is moral if it is the right thing to do to the right
person, at the right time, in the right manner, to the right
extent, in the right place and for the right purpose.
 OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO
EDUCATION AND HUMANITY
1. The Socratic method of teaching is the greatest contribution of
Greece to the world.
2. Another great contribution is in the realm of philosophy. World
greatest philosophers came from Greece, Socrates, Plato,
Aristotle and others. Aristotle's logic is still much studied and
used today.
3. Field of mathematics that has been studied two thousand
years up to present.
4. Art and classical literature.
 Lesson 5
ROMAN
EDUCATION
Italian peninsula was occupied by Italians, Etruscans, and Greeks
who settled in Sicily and the south. The Italian tribes were the
Sabellians, the Umbrians and the Latins.
Out of the mixture of these peoples emerged the strong energetic
Romans and also developed city-states, and Latium, the city-states
of Rome became the most powerful.
The romans judge things by their usefulness.
Roman Education was founded much later than Greek Education
and was actually based on the same style of teaching.
Roman Education tended to include its own subject matter and
style in its teachings.
Early Roman
Education
AIMS OF EDUCATION
 UTILITARIAN
Education was for practical purpose, to produce men who
would be active and efficient in daily life.
 MORAL
To produce good citizens who knew how to exercise their
rights, fulfill their duties and obligations, and acquire virtues
such as piety, obedience, manliness, courage, bravery, industry,
honesty, and prudence.
 MILITARY
To train to be good soldiers and conquerors in war.
 CIVIC AND POLITICAL
To train men to be participative and wise in politics.
 Religious
To train men to have reverence for the gods.
 CONTENT TO BE STUDIED
1. Ballads and songs - glorifying traits esteemed by the Romans.
2. The Law of the Twelve Tribes – the youth memorized these laws which
defined private and public relationships and human and property rights.
3. Religious ceremonies and usages – all activities were under the auspices
of gods who have to be placated always by sacrifices and ceremonies.
4. Physical and military exercises
5. Domestic chores taught by mothers to their daughters
6. Vocations – crafts and skills learned by male children by doing with their
fathers in the shop or in the farm.
 Agencies of Education
1. Home –children of both sexes learned the rudiments of
knowledge, morals and religion at home.
2. Shop and farm – boys went with their fathers to shops and farms
to learn the trades of their fathers.
3. Military camp – the place where boys learned the art of warfare
like the use of the battle ax, lance, chariot, etc.
4. Forum – a place where boys learned the science of politics and
government.
5. Private schools – set up by Greeks and pupils have to pay for
some learnings.
Organization of Grade Levels
1. Early training for young children was in home.
2. Later, the boys went with their fathers to the shops or
farms.
3. The boys also went to the forum to learn about public
affairs.
4. At age 16, the boy became a citizen taking on toga virilise
of manhood solemnized by religious ceremonies.
5. He then entered military camp, after which he was fully
prepared for his duties in life, both civic and military.
Methods of Instruction
1. Direct imitation – the boys imitated their fathers and the
girls their mothers. They were urged to imitate the heroes
whose exploits were related to them. Reading, writing, and
counting were learned by imitation from parents.
2. Memorization – memorize the laws of the Twelve Tables,
ballads and religious songs.
3. Discipline – very rigorous that corporal punishment and
even death could be inflicted by the father under the power
known as patria potestas granted by ancient law.
Financing
When training was carried on in the home, in the
father’s shop or farm, in the forum, or in the military
camp the learners did not pay any fee. But when they
entered the private schools put up by the Greeks, they
had to pay
Later Roman Education
Aims of Education
1. Oratorical – capability improvement especially in public
speaking, perfection in public speaking and debate coupled
with stress in moral virtues. The vir bonus (morally
virtuous), gifted in oratory was the ideal educated man. The
educated man must have moral character, broad knowledge
and ability to speak.
2. Civic – to train students for public service.
Types of Education
1. Speech training – this was the outstanding type at the time. Public
speaking or oratory and debate were given much attention.
2. Civic training – this was coupled with speech training with the
expectation that the good orator would use his talent for public
service.
3. Literacy training –the presence of many inscriptions and epitaphs on
tombs, election posters, shop identifications and public notices
indicated that there was a good literacy education.
4. Vocational education – this was for the great mass of the people
because there was no universal education.
Content to be Studied
1. Elementary education – included rudiments of reading, writing and
calculations.
2. Secondary school - grammar was the chief study with the inclusion of
literature, prose, poetry and language. Greek and Latin authors reflecting
the new literary attitudes were studied along with geography, history,
mythology and natural sciences but studied superficially.
3. Higher Schools – rhetoric was chiefly studied which includes
declamation, extemporaneous speaking, debates on points of Roman law
and moral principles.
4. University – the curriculum includes applied science and professions
such as law, medicine, architecture and mechanics.
Agencies of Education
1. School of litterator (teacher of letters) – this was in the elementary
level which was an outgrowth and successor of ludus.
2. School of grammatics (teacher of grammar) – this was in the
secondary level attended by boys only which of two types like the
Greek grammar school and Latin grammar school where grammar
and literature are taught.
3. School of the rhetor (teacher of rhetoric) – this was in the higher
level.
4. Athenaeum – this was the university level developed as the center of
learning around the library.
Organization of Grade Levels
1. At age 7-10, boys and girls entered the litterator.
2. At age 10-16, boys entered the school of Grammaticus,
secondary level
3. At 16 or older, boys entered the school of the rhetor for two
three years.
4. Those who hurdled the school of the rhetor went to the
Athenaeum for a professional course.
Methods of Instruction
1. Memorization – used in the elementary level. Writing and reading
were taught from dictation and writing was on wax with stylus.
Discipline was severe and flogging was used. Letters of the alphabet
were memorized and pronunciation, enunciation and self-expression
were also taught.
2. Drill and writing exercise – this was in secondary level with
intensive drill on grammatical elements such parts of speech, syntax,
pronunciation and others. There was so much practice in writing
paragraphs, themes, compositions and poetic expressions.
3. Public speaking practices – strong emphasis in all types of public
speaking such as declamations, eulogies, funeral orations,
exhortations and extemporaneous speeches.
Financing
The private schools were supported by the fees of the students
at the start. Later, the Quintilian advocated the establishment of
public school system.

Outstanding Contributions to Education and

Civilization
The major contributions were methods of organization,
management and administration. They also organized body of
civil law which became the basis of the legal systems in many
countries including the Philippines.
 Lesson 6
Early Christian Education
• During this era, Christianity arose.
• Roman catholic church was the “center of education and literacy.”
• During the reign of augustus caesar when there was roman peace (pax
romana) all of rome’s dominions, jesus christ was born in the little town of
bethlehem.
• Christ is the greek name for “messiah.” Jesus was supposed to have been
born 4 b.C. Of jewish parents.
• About thirty year later, he sarted his preaching that last three years.
• Jesus was probably taught by his parents at home and attended religious
services in the synagogue, a place for Jewish worship.
• Jesus never attended school and never wrote a book but his preachings
exerted the greatest influence upon the course of human history.
Aims of Education
1. Relationship between God and man.
2. Salvation
3. Social relations based on love.
Types of Education
1. Religious (spiritual) – to restore the right relationship
between God and men for the salvation of humankind.
2. Ethical (moral) and social education – the highest type to
remove all injustice, greed, hatred and slavery, etc.
3. Universal and democratic education – education is for all
Content to be Studied
1. The word of God, principle of love, requisite for salvation, faith and
forgiveness.
2. The Sermon on the Mount (Beatitudes)

Agencies of Education
1. Informal teaching – different places where there were people to
listen to Him.
Organization of Grade Level
1. There were no gradations but He encouraged the education of the
children.
Methods of Instruction
1. Lecture (telling) – Jesus lectured in a very intimate, simple,
direct, natural and conversational way.
2. Dialectic (question-answer) – hearers were free to ask
questions.
3. Aphorism – use of short expression or saying to point out a
general truth.
4. Parable method – used parables to bring home His points.
5. Figures of Speech – used to make His points better
understood (simile, metaphor, hyperbole)
6. Teaching with authority
7. Miracles – performed miracles only when there was need as
in healing the sick.
8. Concrete examples
9. Motivation – used the elements of reward and punishment
10. Modelling – He lived what He taught.
Financing
Jesus was never paid for His teachings and He never
collected any fees from His hearers.

Outstanding Contributions to Education and

Humanity
Christianity is the most outstanding contribution of Christ to
humanity. His methods of teaching were never been surpassed
in their effectiveness.
Education in the Early
Christian Church
 Aims of Education
1. Moral – the chief aim was the moral regeneration of the individual because of the
corrupt pagan practices.
2. Salvation – to spread the good news of salvation
Types of Education
1. Moral training – to develop moral values
2. Spiritual training – to develop faith in God and in Christ and to develop
spiritual virtues.`
3. Music education – this was in connection with psalmony and hymnology, the
kind of music used in church services
Content to be Studied
1. Moral and spiritual values3. Church doctrines
2. Requisites for baptism 4. Music in connection with church worship
Agencies of Education
1. Home – children were taught by their parents
2. Church – chief educational agency
3. Catechumenal school – for those preparing for baptism whose
teachers were the more able members of the church
4. Catechetical school – for those who were being prepared for church
leadership and the method of teaching is question and answer hence
called as catechetical school.
5. Cathedral school – located in cathedral under the direct supervision
of the bishop. This school was for those training for priesthood or
clergy or those with higher learning.
Organization of Grade Levels
1. Children were first trained in their homes.
2. The attended catechumenal school when they were able to
understand for two or 4 years.
3. Those preparing for church leadership attended the
catechetical school, so called because it used the question
and answer method. They were grammarians, rhetoricians
and philosophers converted to Christianity.
4. Those preparing for priesthood or clergy, they attended
cathedral school supervised by bishop or cathedral canon.
Methods of Instruction
1. Catechetical method – question and answer method
2. Memorization – pupils had to memorize the answers to the
questions prepared and given to them beforehand by the
teacher.
3. Exposition and exhortation – preaching
Financing
The students availed of free education but voluntary
contributions were solicited from the more affluent church
members to defray the expenses of the church educational
programs.
Outstanding Contributions to Education
The outstanding contribution of early Christian education to
civilization and education is the conversion of more than one-
half of the world into Christianity with the highest ideals of
spirituality and morality. Up to the present, Christian education
continues to propagate the Christian faith.
 Lesson 7
Muslim Education
• Founded by Mohammad
• Mohammad means “praiseworthy” or “highly praised”
• Islam started as religious movement in 613 AD in Mecca
and Medina in Arabian peninsula.
• Islam came from Arabic verb “aslama” which means “to
submit” or “to surrender”
• Muslim means “one submitting one to Allah”
Aims of Education
1. Scientific – to develop and assimilate scientific
knowledge
2. Practical – to apply science for practical purposes
3. Initiative and welfare – to develop individual initiative
and social welfare.
4. Religious – to develop religiousness in Islam
5. Vocational – to develop skills in making or doing things
for use in their daily life.
Types of Education
1. Science education – studied science not for the sake of knowledge but for its
practical application
2. Vocational education – this was for arts and crafts, practice in agriculture,
animal breeding, etc. based in science
3. Religious education – study based on Koran
4. Artistic designing – this was done in architecture, carving, textile designing,
coloring, ceramics and metal works, but there was no painting or sculpture.
5. Avocational training – training in the form of entertainment such as reading,
story telling, music and dancing.
6. Professional education – science was the basis for offerings in the profession
such as medicine, mechanical and commercial trades, architecture, etc.
Content to be Studied
1. Elementary level – reading, writing, arithmetic, religion, grammar and
elementary science
2. Higher levels – algebra, geometry, trigonometry, physics, chemistry, geography,
astronomy, anatomy, pharmacy, medicine, surgery, philosophy, history, literature,
logic, metaphysics and jurisprudence.
3. Mathematics – use the zero decimal notation, created algebra virtually ,
developed trigonometry, used mathematics in studying physics, astronomy
4. Medicine – studied diseases, diet, drugs, physiology and hygiene. They made
tinctures, essences and syrups and used anesthetics.
5. Agriculture – knew scientific breeding of cattle and horses, horticultural secrets
of grafting, used fertilizers and crop rotation, adopted the Egyptian system of
irrigation of waterwheels, floodgates and pumps, produced paper, rice, cotton,
spinach, saffron, sugar and many fruits.
Agencies of Education
1. Courts of the early caliphs – caliphs became scholars and the courts
became the first centers of learning
2. Elementary schools - the caliph Haroun-alRachid of Baghdad was the
first to organize elementary school, one for each mosque and followed
by others
3. Secondary schools – next higher than elementary schools
4. Kuttab – neither an elementary school nor a high school but it was
simply a school in a teacher’s house where only reading and writing
were taught.
5. Universities – these were actually colleges very richly furnished
especially the libraries. Each university had separate departments each
offering a course.
Organization of Grade Levels
1. The mosque was the earliest educational setting where education was largely based
on Koran.
2. Later, Kuttab was developed where teaching was done in the house of the teacher
and taught reading and writing.
3. At the age of 5, children entered elementary school for free attached to the mosque
and read Koran, the chief reading text.
4. After 3 years in school, children of poorer classes stopped and engaged in trade or
industry.
5. Children of the rich continued schooling until they reached age 14 and entered
secondary schools. They just accommodate 4 students in each room where Jews or
Christians as teachers.
6. At university level, students and professors shared accommodations with special
departments for various sciences.
Methods of Instruction
1. Repetition and drill – used in elementary intensively.
2. Memorization and imitation – used in teraching Islam
3. Lecture, observation and experimentation – used in higher
schools where laboratories and clinics and are used for
teaching chemistry, physics, astronomy and medicine.

Financing
Elementary education was free supported by caliphs while
higher education was not.
Outstanding Contributions to Education
1. Replacing the Roman Numerals with figures borrowed from the
Hindus, using zero and the decimal system of notation that give
digits the value of position. Writing and computing numbers
were simplified.
2. Algebra and trigonometry in the field of mathematics.
3. Placing importance in the library as center of learning.
4. Using the laboratory and experimental method in teaching
science.
5. The study of applied science. This is studying the practical
application of science in ant human activity in order to improve
the quality of human life.