Really Old Universities Trivia Quiz

The University of Bologna can make a good argument for being the oldest continually operating university in the world. While the school's charter dates to the 11th century, its development was a gradual process. The university is spread across several campuses. Among its famous alumni are the astronomer Nicklaus Copernicus.

The origins of the university centered on the teaching of canon and civil law.

The University of Salamanca began as a cathedral school before being founded by King Alfonso IX of Leon. Geographers at the school promoted the theories of Christopher Columbus in the period before his 1492 voyage. The university also played a role in the Council of Trent and the development of the Gregorian Calendar. Famous alumni of the school included Miguel de Cervantes and Bartolome de Las Casas.

The oldest university in Portugal, it was first located in Lisbon before eventually moving to Coimbra. The university is divided into several faculties, each with its own distinct color. It is referenced in Voltaire's novel "Candice". Due to several factors including its architecture, UNESCO declared the University a World Heritage site.

A large international population has led to a cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Charles University is one of the first schools north of the Alps. An early member of the faculty was Reformation thinker Jan Hus. Over the years, neither University has expanded from four faculties (law, medicine, arts, and theology) to seventeen. Until the early seventeenth, the faculty was officially required to be celibate.

The university gradually became more open and diverse during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Jagiellonian is the oldest University in Poland and a UNSCO World Heritage site. Pope John Paul II was an alumnus of the school. In its early years, the school was financially supported by the personal donation of the jewelry of a queen of Poland. During its first few hundred years, it was the primary university for Poland.

The founding of the University dates to the establishment of its primary library.

Seventeen Nobel Prize winners have been associated with the University of Vienna through 2024. It is one of the oldest universities where German is the primary language. At one time it was the largest university in the Holy Roman Empire. Religious requirements were loosened in the 18th century and were gradually admitted beginning in the 19th century. Academic facilities for the school are found in dozens of locations throughout Vienna.

Heidelberg is the oldest university in Germany. The school was established in part because of the Great Schism. By the 19th century, the university became associated with Liberalism. Famous alumni have included several German chancellors. A fictionalized account of the university can be found in the Mark Twain book "A Tramp Abroad".

The University of Basel is a public institution and the oldest university in Switzerland. The school was founded in part by the Council of Basel. Increasing commercialization of Basel led to a decrease in numbers attending in the 1700s. The university's library would eventually become the largest in Switzerland. Famous faculty include Friedrich Nietzsche.

The University of Copenhagen is the oldest university in Denmark. A large number of Danish prime ministers have been alumni of the university. Established during the 15th century, the university was reestablished during the Reformation. A large part of the university was destroyed during the Napoleonic wars. Female students began attending in the late 1800s.

Uppsala university is the first university established in Sweden. The school was initially chartered by papal bull. Originally established as an ecclesiastical school, the areas of study greatly increased over the years. A famous alumnus of the school was Karl Linnaeus. Women were first admitted to the university in the 1870s.