Ellwood Patterson Cubberley’s The History of Education is a classic and comprehensive survey that considers educational practice and progress as a phase in the development and spread of Western civilization. Cubberley, a leading authority in the field, traces the long story of education from ancient times through the modern era, linking it to broader social and intellectual movements.
The book examines the great reformers, institutions, and ideas that shaped schooling, with particular attention to how educational systems developed and spread. Long used as a standard textbook, it offers a sweeping and well-organized account grounded in wide scholarship. For students and general readers seeking a thorough introduction to the history of education, Cubberley’s work remains an influential and detailed reference.