Children in Historical and Comparative Perspective presents the work of many of the world's foremost authorities on the subject in a study that affirms the importance of the role children play in the story of civilization. The contributors represent many nations as well as a variety of disciplines, from the social sciences to history and the arts. The result is a volume that covers such topics as the quality of child rearing, how cultural differences affect childhood, and patterns of both continuity and change that characterize childhood throughout the world.

After the editors' introductory overview, the book's attention turns to childhood in the premodern world. The focus then shifts to the history of children in modern world countries, with each chapter supplemented by its own bibliography. This handbook, broad in its scope, highlights the uniqueness of historical and cultural influences within nations and at the same time demonstrates how the study of childhood crosses all boundaries, thereby enhancing our understanding of the human condition.