Title: History of social work - Wikipedia
Headings: History of social work
History of social work
Contents
Pre-modern antecedents
Modern development
Poverty relief
Private philanthropy
Social action
Further Development
Gender perspective in the history of social work
Medical Social Work
State Welfare
Today
Links
References

Content: The concept of charity goes back to ancient times, and the practice of providing for the poor has roots in all major world religions. Contents
1 Pre-modern antecedents
2 Modern development
2.1 Poverty relief
2.2 Private philanthropy
2.3 Social action
2.4 Further Development
3 Gender perspective in the history of social work
4 Medical Social Work
5 State Welfare
6 Today
7 Links
8 References
Pre-modern antecedents
Before the rise of modern states, the Christian church provided social services in (for example) the Mediterranean world. When the Roman Emperor Constantine I endorsed Christianity in the 4th century, the newly legitimised church set up or expanded burial societies, poorhouses, homes for the aged, shelter for the homeless, hospitals, and orphanages in the Roman Empire. These were often funded, at least in part, from grants from the Empire. By 580 AD the church had a system for circulating consumables to the poor: associated with each parish was a diaconium or office of the deacon. Monasteries also often served as comprehensive social-service agencies, acting as hospitals, homes for the aged, orphanages, travelers' aid stations. During the Middle Ages, the Christian church had vast influence on European society and Christians regarded charity as a responsibility and a sign of one's piety. This charity came in the form of direct relief (for example, giving money, food, or other material goods to alleviate a particular need), as opposed to trying to change the root causes of social ills. As there was no effective bureaucracy below city government that was capable of large-scale charitable activities, the clergy carried out this role in Europe until the Early Modern Period .