At the Origins of Education: Historical Experience, the Transformation of the Teacher's Role, and Contemporary Challenges

The study of the history of education makes it possible to examine the development of knowledge transmission, educational institutions, and the professional role of teachers across different historical periods. This paper aims to review the major stages in the development of education, from its earliest forms to the contemporary digital learning environment, and to identify the changes that have shaped the role of the teacher. The research is based on historicaldescriptive and comparative analysis, drawing on scholarly literature on the history of education and selected historical sources. Particular attention is paid to early forms of knowledge transmission, the scribal traditions of the Ancient Near East, educational ideas in Ancient Greece, and contemporary challenges in education. The analysis demonstrates that the teacher’s role has changed in response to social needs, methods of knowledge transmission, and educational objectives. In contemporary education, the teacher’s work extends beyond the delivery of information to include the promotion of critical thinking, independent learning, and the responsible use of information. The development of digital technologies and artificial intelligence creates new opportunities while also introducing additional responsibilities.