Early History

Children´s playthings have been found in the tombs of ancient Greece and in archaeological digs in Greece and Rome. The development of toys and dolls is directly linked to societys changing attitude toward children: until the end of the 18th century, children were regarded as adults in miniature and were expected to amuse themselves in the same way as adults. In wealthy families this meant children learned to handle a horse, sword and a hawk; but the children of the poor were sent to work from a young age and had neither time nor money for amusements.