The present publication is intended to meet the demand for a textbook or reference work that will give a comprehensive account of the history of education before the day of the monastic schools. The aim has been to present sufficient material to mark the most significant movements, and disclose the underlying principles, without entering into unnecessary detail, or dwelling upon matters but remotely related to the educational problems of today. An effort has, moreover, been made to see that all interpretations are based upon historical data collected from the sources; and direct quotation of this material has been liberally made throughout. Frank Pierrepont Graves, Ph.D., was dean at three universities, and finished his career in 1940 after nearly 20 years as Commissioner of Education and President of the University of the State of New York. At the time of original publication in 1909 he was Professor of the History and Philosophy of Education in the Ohio State University.