The Formation of European Universities in the Middle Ages

Abstract

Undoubtedly, the university, in its known form throughout all ages, is one of the most significant intellectual contributions produced during the Middle Ages in the realms of science and education. Unlike the ancient times of Greece and Rome, there is no evidence of such a university concept prior to the Middle Ages. The ancient history, despite its advancements and achievements in various aspects of intellectual civilization, did not establish a single university in the sense that we understand today.

These universities became vibrant centers of scientific activity, brimming with energy and constant movement, and they became sources of wonder and admiration. They attracted students from across Western Europe and included among their professors some of the most capable, brilliant, and competent men of the time.

Universities, in the original sense of the word, were simply associations of teachers and students founded for mutual protection and assistance, much like the guilds of craftsmen that emerged with the need to organize life into groups—a common sentiment in Europe during the 12th century. A student coming from a foreign country needed the security and protection that could be obtained by associating with fellow countrymen in the country where they were studying. For this reason, groups of foreign students and teachers organized themselves into several separate universities.