The history of education has often been interpreted either in terms of its importance for education, or for its value as part of history, or for its relevance to the social sciences. However, there is also an inclusive tradition in the history of education that appeals to all three of these constituencies, with distinguished pioneers in Emile Durkheim and Brian Simon, but which has tended to be neglected. Current research in the field is beginning to recognise the multifaceted nature of the history of education, leading to new awareness of theoretical and methodological issues, and new treatments often of themes such as social inequalities, teaching, learning, and comparative and transnational perspectives.