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476 BCE
Preindustrial and medieval
Children were often temporarily sent off as servants to relatives in need of help. Church law and common law regarded children as equal to adults for some purposes and distinct for other purposes. -
Period: 476 BCE to
Preindustrial and medieval
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Early modern periods (17th century)
Children were taught the basic etiquette of proper manners, social norms and respecting others, adults increasingly saw children as separate beings, innocent and in need of protection and training by the adults around them. John Locke was influential with his theory of Tabula Rasa, he said that human mind is a "blank slate" without rules for processing data and they are formed by sensory experiences and it was the duty of the parents to imbue the child with correct notions. -
Enlightenment era (18th century)
The idea of childhood as a locus of divinity and innocence is further expounded by William Wordsworth. Instead of depicting children as small versions of adults, they were increasingly shown as physically and emotionally different. Children's education became more common and institutionalized, small local schools were to learn how to read and write were established by philonthropists for poor children while sons and daughters of nobles were given education at university. -
Modern childhood (late 19th century)
A new genre of children's literature had borned. Authors began to write humorous, child-oriented books, more attuned to the child's imagination. Writing style for children changed to an imaginative and empathetic one. In Europe, children were removed from workplace and factories started made toys as dolls.