LIFE OF

MARIA MONTESSORI
IN DATES
Work of Maria Montessori
Maria Montessori was a pioneer in A few years later, she opened the
the field of education who changed "Children's House" in Rome, which
the way the world perceives child became the foundation for the
learning. She became one of the first Montessori method. This new
Italian women to earn a medical approach emphasized independence,
degree, which allowed her to sensory learning, and customized
combine her medical knowledge with educational materials that respect
detailed pedagogical research. Her the natural development of the child.
work with children in a psychiatric Montessori expanded her
clinic inspired her to explore new educational theories through books
ways to support their education and and international training sessions,
development. and her methods were soon adopted
worldwide.

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Timeline of Montessori’s Life
1870 Birth of a Visionary
Maria Montessori was born on August 31, 1870, in Chiaravalle, a small town in
the province of Ancona in central Italy. Her birth came at a time when Italy was
undergoing a process of unification and modernization, which influenced her
upbringing and career. Maria was the only child of Alessandro Montessori, a
finance officer, and his wife Renilde Stoppani, who was well-educated and came
from a family with academic traditions. Maria's education was encouraged in an
academic direction, which was not common for girls at that time. This
environment and family background enabled her to pursue her interests and
eventually became one of the first women in Italy to earn a medical degree.

1896 Attainment of a Medical Degree

Maria Montessori obtained her medical degree in 1896 from the University of
Rome, known as La Sapienza. She became one of the first women in Italy to
complete a degree in medicine and obtain a medical diploma. Her decision to
study medicine was unconventional and faced many obstacles, including
gender biases that affected women's access to higher education at the time.
Despite these challenges, Montessori successfully completed her studies and
specialized in psychiatry and pediatrics.

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1897 From Medicine to Education
After obtaining her medical degree, Maria Montessori worked at a psychiatric
clinic associated with the university, where she encountered children with
mental disabilities. This experience inspired her to pursue further studies and
research in education, which eventually led to the development of her
pedagogical methods. Montessori continued to deepen her knowledge and
skills in education through studies in pedagogy, psychology, and philosophy,
laying the groundwork for her innovative educational system.

1907 Inauguration of Casa dei Bambini

The first "Casa dei Bambini" opened by Maria Montessori on January 6, 1907, in
the San Lorenzo district of Rome, was pivotal in developing the Montessori
method. This school, initially aimed at caring for young children in a poor urban
area while their parents worked, featured a learning environment with child-
sized furniture and self-directed educational materials. Here, Montessori
implemented her educational philosophy that emphasized respecting a child’s
natural development and the importance of a prepared environment.

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1913 Revision of "The M. Method"
In 1913, Maria Montessori
was examining the first
copies of the new edition of
her book "The Montessori
Method." This book had
become a seminal work,
detailing her educational
philosophy and methods.
The new edition reflected
her ongoing research and
experiences gained from
teaching children in various
cultures and environments.

1914 Origin of Cosmic Education

After the First World War, Maria Montessori focused on expanding her
educational method to children older than six years, developing the "Cosmic
Education" curriculum for children aged six to twelve. This program aimed to
connect children with universal concepts about the universe and the
interdependence of life on Earth, with the goal of fostering responsibility and a
willingness to care for the planet. Montessori also adapted educational
materials for older children, emphasized the importance of social development
and cooperation, and continued to spread her approach through publications
and teacher training. This period was crucial for the development of her
pedagogical system, making it applicable to a broader age spectrum.

1929 Foundation of the AMI

In that year, she founded the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) in
Berlin to support the international dissemination of her educational principles.
It was established to oversee the training of teachers, the production of
Montessori materials, and the maintenance of the integrity of Montessori's
educational philosophy.

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1939 Exile in Adyar, India
On November 4, 1939, Maria
Montessori arrived in Adyar,
which is part of the greater
Chennai area in India, formerly
known as Madras. Montessori
traveled to India with her son
Mario, and their stay was initially
planned to be brief, intended for
conducting courses and lectures.
However, the outbreak of World
War II meant that both remained
in India until the end of the war.
During this period,
Maria Montessori worked intensively on spreading and adapting her
educational philosophy to the local conditions and culture, including training
local teachers. Her stay in India significantly influenced the further development
of her methods and the spread of her educational principles across Asia.

1946 Visit to a School in London

On November 2,
1946, Dr. Maria
Montessori, along
with her son Mario
Montessori, visited a
school in Acton,
London. This visit
was part of the
international spread
of the Montessori
method following
World War II.

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1949 Release: "The Absorbent Mind"
Maria Montessori publishes the book “The Absorbent Mind“, one of her most
significant and influential works. Released in 1949, during the later period of
her career, it compiles a series of lectures she delivered in India. The book
focuses on the developmental psychological stage of children from birth to six
years, which Montessori describes as a time when children have a unique
ability to mentally absorb and adapt to their surroundings.

1951 European Educational Tour

In 1951, Maria Montessori visited the Gatehouse Montessori School in London.
During the post-war years, Montessori was very active, especially in Europe,
where she visited various educational institutions that had adopted her
pedagogical methods.

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1952 Final Journey and Lasting Legacy
Maria Montessori passed away on May 6, 1952, at the age of 81 in Noordwijk,
Netherlands. At that time, Montessori was a recognized and influential figure in
the world of education. After World War II, she settled in the Netherlands, with
Noordwijk becoming her home and the place where she spent the last years of
her life. Here, she continued her work with the Association Montessori
Internationale (AMI).

Her death was a great loss to the educational community, but her legacy and
influence endure. Montessori schools around the world continue to use her
methods, which support independent learning, respect for children's natural
development, and the creation of environments that motivate children to
explore and learn.

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This e-book was published by Montessori Institute Prague, AMI training center,
on the occasion of the 72nd anniversary of Maria Montessori's death. The
publication contains a detailed overview of Montessori's main life milestones
arranged chronologically by individual dates.

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