Childhood in History

Childhood in Rome: boys and girls

450 BCE

At Rome, education was directed in a physical way, supported by sport activities. It was also exclusive for boys. As for girls, they were learning about home chores, since that's what was expected for them to do, so they shouldn't know about philosophy or any more content than that.

Childhood in Greece: "Free men"

324 BCE

The idea of childhood gets combined with education. Aristotle, as a philosopher, thought education was meant to make "free men" so he decided to segment it. With this segmentation children were expected to adopt particular behaviors and experience formation in many ways.

Men who serve god

399

The idea made about educating children in order to make "free men" turned into a Christian Church conception in which men should be educated to serve and fear God, not to think, so they suppress the free thinking.

Infanticide

600

Killing a child was terribly common in this era. Parents were allowed to murder their own children if, for example, they could not take care of them. Also, it wasn't even considered a murder if it was about a girl, since they were in the bottom of the social status.

Children: Perverse, evil beings

1350

In this time, the only thing worst than being a child was death itself. Children were considered as perverse creatures and there was nothing good on childhood. So they were constantly uderestimated, underated and mistreated. The only valuable thing about them was their workforce.

Parents own their children

1400

Few children had proper access to education, and if they did, it was all about serving god. Parents were conceived as the owners of their children, therefore, the kids owe them absolute discipline, respect and obedience. Parents could dispose of children however they liked: they could reprimand, punish or even negotiate and sell them.

Pre-Industrial Revolution: Child labor

1550

During this time, the big industries considere children, since they were five, as creatures able to work in light but extended journey thus they hired them as their workforce. Parents, in need, had no other choice but to agree.

Childhood during Industrial Revolution

1600

Thanks to this moment in time, children weren't needed to work any longer. And those who were sons and daughters of wealthy people were raised by their own servants, until they were old enough to find a job, there was no relationship between children and parents.
Even at a time like this, "childhood" was still conceived as the worst state, more vile and abject thing on earth.

Childhood: from evil to good

1850

Thanks to Jean Jacques Rousseau's remarks that children were born good by nature, people also started to think so. Thus, education began to become important and it was decided that it has to be adapted to the particular characteristics the child was born with.

Freud's remarks

1900

Freud theory was about parent-child relationships and their correlation with social change. He brought importance to the role of children and their psychological influence in the establishment of a grown individual.

All children have rights

Nov 20, 1959

This is the day where the UN approves the Children's Rights. Children were considered social individuals who had rights. So it was a priority to the government to guarantee their well being. Children have, between many other things, the rights to equality, without distinction as to race, religion or nationality, the right to have special protection, to a name and a nationality, to adequate food, shelter and medical care, and to education.

Parenting rol in childhood

1960

Parents play an important rol in their children's lifes, they not only provide them but are also responsible for their education and all the things they may need in order to grow well. The parents now care about their child's thoughts and emotions.

Philippe Aries

1965

Philippe Aries is considered the pioneer on the study of the history of childhood. In his books he wonders about how the attitude of parents towards childhood has changed over time. Then, he establishes a link between the history of education and social history.

Children as the future of society

2000

In the 21st Century children are conceived as the future of society, therefore child laws were created in order to guarantee their well being and provide them with a healthy enviroment where they can properly grow. Theses laws also make sure the parents provide their children with proper education and company.

Childhood nowadays

2018

The fight for children's rights has been of much help, and because of it, education has been reformed following the purpose to make sure children can entirely and properly develop social and motor skills for their whole life. It is now recognized that children have both, same rights as grown ups, and extra ones because they are in a process of growing and development. And thus, they have to be protected.