I thoroughly enjoyed giving my Canadian cousin Bill and his wife Sue a tour of Oxford this April. Bill must have started painting some of his fabulous watercolours, because he’s started his research to describe his subject. He sent me these facts today. The University of Oxford is nearly 700 years older than the United States, 400 years older than the English language, 300 years older than Manchu Picchu, 200 years older than the Aztecs, 150 years older than the Easter Island heads, and 100 years older than Magna Carta. I posted recently about Simon de Montfort and Oxford, so what else can I tell you about Oxford University?
The origins of Oxford University can be traced back to the early 12th century when groups of scholars began to gather in the city of Oxford to study and teach. The exact date of its foundation is unknown, but it is widely believed to have been established around 1096. Initially, these scholars were primarily focused on religious studies, but over time, the curriculum expanded to include a wide range of subjects.
The university’s early growth can be attributed to several factors, including its proximity to the royal court and the presence of distinguished scholars. In 1167, King Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris, leading to an influx of scholars to Oxford. This resulted in the establishment of several colleges, which became the cornerstone of Oxford’s educational system.
Oxford is the oldest university in the English speaking world, but Bologna University is a little older. Bologna University was established around a decade earlier. When in 2020 Oxford celebrated 100 years since women were first awarded degrees, I pointed out that Bologna were celebrating 783 years of awarding degrees to women. Bologna University features in Fire and Earth and Called to Account, the second and fourth books in the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures. Having got off to a slow start, Oxford’s women are now giant players on the world stage. Professor Sarah Gilbert was Project Leader for Oxford’s Covid-19 vaccine.
When you arrive in Oxford as a student, the initial priorities are moving into your room, meeting your tutors, and making friends. When I had settled in and became conscious of the tourists, I was struck by how lucky I was to live and study in such an awesomely beautiful city. I still feel that way today.