HistoryOfUniversities
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[edit] A Brief History of Universities
[edit] Pre University Institutions
Before there were universities, learning institutions took a variety of forms.
[edit] Pythagoras
The Pythagorean Brotherhood, established around 600BC was the origin of Mathematical Logic and many of our ideas about Proof. The brotherhood (which accepted women members) was based in Samos, Italy under the patronage of Milo.
The brotherhood expected it's members to abandon all their earthly belongings to a common fund, and if they ever left, were promised twice their donation. (Although a tombstone was erected in their memory)
Pythagoras invented the word Philosopher, meaning a lover of Wisdom. The brotherhood searched for God in numbers. All their lessons and discoveries were secret, known only to those of the Brotherhood. By studying the interrelationships between the numbers, they hoped to uncover the secrets of the universe. They searched for truth via proof.
Pythagoras was killed in 510BC. The Brotherhood scattered and their methods spread across the known world, seeding the ideas for the future development of mathematics.
[edit] Universities in Ancient Times
[edit] Alexandria
Alexander created Alexandria, in 332AD. During the reign of his half-brother, Ptolmey 1 the city became the first University. Demetrius Phalaerus, unpopular in Athens fled to the city and persuaded Ptolmey to collect all the known books. Any tourists to the city would have their books confiscated, they would be copied and the copy returned to the visitor. The original was kept for the library. Once the books arrived, the Scholars followed, and the first University was created.
[edit] Other Learning Insitutions
Although the UO claims to be a university, is is quite different to what people expect a university to be. There are a good number of other learning institutions that follow (or once followed) similar patterns.
[edit] Self Instituted Universities
[edit] FlyingUniversity
Some institutions exist outside of official systems out of necessity. The FlyingUniversity made education available to women when it was illegal for them to be educated, and protected knowledge during times of war.
[edit] Societies
[edit] The Royal Society
Almost all methods of thinking were once considered "alternative". The idea that Science was once considered "new" may seem impossible to us twentyfirst centurians, but once upon a time thinkers had to work pretty hard to promote this new way of thinking. After the fire of London, Christopher Wren and a number of his peers created the Royal Society to promote scientific thinking.
Note by Robert: There is an interesting fictional treatment of the early Royal Society in 'Quicksilver' by Neal Stephenson. There is a great deal of concentration on the rivalries between Newton and Hooke, and Newton and Liebniz. Although fictional, the research into the facts surrounding the events seems to be quite exhaustive. The presentation of the role played by the various politics and philosopy in those turbulent times is, essentially, historical interpretation; just more readable than many academic texts.
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