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Birth
Montessori was born in the province of Ancona in Italy. Her parents were Alessandro Montessori and Renilde Stoppani. -
Secondary School
Montessori began attending Regia Scuola Tecnica Michelangelo Buonarroti, a secondary technical school, at the age of 13. -
Graduation
Montessori graduation from the University of Rome with a Doctor of Medicine degree, one of the first women in Italy to gain this degree. -
Psychiatric Clinic
After graduating, Montessori worked in the University's psychiatric clinic. During those years she visited many asylums where she was able to observe children with mental disabilities. She also studied the works of Jean Marc Gaspard Itard and Édouard Séguin, which would greatly inspire her later work. -
Son's Birth
Montessori's son, Mario Montessori, was born. Montessori had a love affair with Giuseppe Montesano, but opted not to get married for fear that she would be unable to continue her studies. Mario was raised in a foster family who lived in the countryside. -
Casa dei Bambini Opens
Montessori was asked to oversee a school at a low-income housing complex in the San Lorenzo district of Rome. It was called the Casa dei Bambini, meaning Children's House. -
First Book
Montessori published her first book, "Il Metodo della Pedagogia Scientifica applicato all’educazione infantile nelle Case dei Bambini" (shortened in English to "The Montessori Method") based on her work at the Casa dei Bambini. -
Trip to the United States
Montessori had a three week lecture tour in the United States. At the time there were more than 100 Montessori schools in the country. She wrote a diary about her experiences during the trip. -
Trip to United States with Mario
Montessori took her son, Mario, with her on her second trip to America. He would eventually play a huge role in the development of the Montessori Method, especially the establishment of the elementary program. -
Meets Mussolini
Montessori met with Mussolini. He offered his official support of the Montessori method of education. -
AMI founded
Montessori and her son, Mario, founded the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) during the first International Montessori Conference. The first headquarters were in Berlin. -
Peace Education
Montessori spoke on the subject of Peace and Education at the Second International Montessori Conference. Her talk of peace caused her to be placed under surveillance by the Italian government. -
Move to the Netherlands
Due to various political tensions throughout Europe, Montessori eventually moved the AMI quarters Amsterdam in the Netherlands, where it remains to this day. -
Trapped in India
Italy entered the war on the side of Germany, at the time Montessori was in India giving a lecture tour. Mario was interned for 2 months, but was released due to the Viceroy's respect for Montessori for her 70th birthday. -
Return to Europe
After the war ended, Montessori and her son, Mario, returned to Europe. -
Nobel Prize Nomination
Montessori received four nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1949. (Maria Jervolino also nominated her in 1950 & 1951). -
Death
Montessori died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Noordwijk aan Zee, the Netherlands