Khanim Huseyn Gadimova, Aysel Azar Kadimova
PEDAGOGICAL THOUGHT AND EDUCATION IN ANCIENT EASTERN CIVILIZATIONS
Abstract. The article discusses school education, upbringing,
and pedagogical thought in ancient civilizations such as Ancient Egypt, India,
and China.
In Ancient Egypt, family upbringing
played a crucial role. Education was multi-stage, and schools were mainly
attended by the children of pharaohs, high nobles, and wealthy families.
In Ancient India, education and
upbringing varied among castes. Education was mandatory for the sons of higher
castes (priests, warriors, and farmers). Students lived in the teacher-guru’s
house and memorized Vedic texts. With the emergence of Buddhism, monasteries
provided education opportunities for everyone.
In Ancient China, the first schools
were called "syan" and "syuy." Education was accessible
only to children from wealthy families and covered six arts: morality, writing,
arithmetic, music, archery, and horse riding. Learning hieroglyphic writing was
the primary goal. Confucius (551–479 BCE) based his school on dialogue and
example.
Keywords: Ancient Egypt, phased education, ancient India, castes, teacher-guru, Buddhism, ancient China, Confucian school.
