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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHILDREN AND CHILDHOOD: IN HISTORY AND SOCIETY

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., (Oct. 20, 2003) Across the world and throughout history, children have played a crucial, if unsung, role in every civilization. From the infant rulers of medieval Europe and child workers in nineteenth century textile mills to adolescent soldiers in twenty-first century civil wars, children have always been influential historical factors. Rearing the next generation has been every culture's essential obligation; children ensure a civilization's survival. Thus, the history of childhood is central to an understanding of global society, past and present.

The Encyclopedia of Children and Childhood offers a unique examination of childhood throughout history in the United States and around the world. This new three-volume encyclopedia presents the social, cultural, and political history of childhood from antiquity to the present day. This is a historical examination of children and childhood, and the first encyclopedia in the field. It is multidisciplinary, with articles written by 337 scholars from many parts of the world who are active researchers in history, sociology, psychology, literature, medicine, law, architecture, and art history. The set takes a look at the institutions, objects, and practices of societies throughout history as they relate to, define, and are defined by childhood. The use of both children and childhood in the title is intentional, since this set is both a look at the overall institution of childhood as well as an examination of what life was like for individual children.

Examine childhood in specific historical periods and in geographic regions

In more than 445 alphabetically arranged articles, the Encyclopedia of Children and Childhood illuminates the panorama of the history of childhood. Detailed comparative entries describe childhood in specific historical periods and in geographic regions. The historical development of the concept of childhood itself, from children as miniature adults to the sheltered and protected child of the twenty-first century developed world, is explored at length.

The encyclopedia also places particular emphasis on images of childhood in art and literature, education, parenting, health, medicine, belief structures, law, work, and play. It includes articles that address adolescent sexual practices, child abuse, fertility and conception patterns, the media, and other features of a rapidly changing modern culture. Each volume is richly illustrated with notable photographs, fine art featuring images of childhood, maps, and graphs. The third volume features a chronology of the history of childhood and an annotated selection of primary sources.

Features

ISBN 0-02-865714-4; 3 volumes; 445 articles; 1,055 pages; October 2003; $325 until Dec. 31, 2003; $360 after.

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