Western culture has had many important effects on the United States as a developing country, and art education has been no exception. In order to understand the impact of Western culture on American art education, it is important to trace the progression of art education across Europe. Over the centuries, the political, social, and economic development of European nations played an important role in philosophies of art education, which, in the long run, influenced American ideas on the subject. Thoughts about art have changed and evolved in many ways over time. . Efland's History of Art Education: Intellectual and Social Currents in Visual Arts Education provides a concise history of art education, chronicling its changes and developments. In chapters two and three, Efland begins with attitudes toward art in the Hellenistic era and advances through the Roman Empire, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Industrial Revolution. According to Efland, in the Hellenistic period, the ownership of works of art was linked, to some extent, to status, but artistry was not considered an esteemed profession. The primary role of Roman education was to prepare individuals to work for the state. As a result, visual arts played no role in formal educational practice. In the Middle Ages, life revolved around faith. If art played a role in people's lives, it was in the form of craft guilds. The apprenticeship system also became more widespread during this period. It was not until the Renaissance that crafts and art became distinct entities. Although the fine arts received more emphasis in the educational setting and students learned formal skills during this period, they constitute the milieu of art education in America. Given that the United States is a relatively young nation, it is crucial that we examine our practices and what has influenced their development. Through the work of scholars such as Efland and Smith, it is becoming increasingly clear that the path of arts education through America's past is complex and evolving. More importantly, it is through their research that we understand that the current state of arts education, including its strengths and flaws, can be attributed to the past events that shaped it. Works Cited Efland, A. (1990). A history of arts education: intellectual and social trends in visual arts education. New York, NY: Teachers College Press. Smith, P. (1996). The History of American Art Education: Art Learning in American Schools. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.