The educational heritage of the western world with a historical perspective of more than two thousand years springs from two main formative forces, Hellenism and Christianity. Antagonism and compromise between these ancient rival systems are reflected in educational philosophy. The essence of Hellenism was the worship of collective human power, which made it possible not only to have life, but to have it more abundantly. Plato and Aristotle wrote the educational corollary to this view. Education should be geared to the fulfilment of human needs, and should encompass the whole body of knowledge. Its end should be the study of the good itself; but that end would be insufficient unless integrated into community life.