More shocking stats

Which university is that Roel, where do you live?

 

I was always taught that the 2 oldest Universities were in France.
France was, for most of the time from the Medieval right up to the early 20th Century (I'm sure the French would argue that they still are!), the leading cultural centre of Europe.

 

Re: laing, thanks! I don't know if I can make a living out of it either. I'd love to be a historian anyway.

Re: GP, Ricky, I'm not sure whether it really is the second oldest actually. As far as I know Leuven (Belgium) is the oldest, but when it was founded this may have been a part of France (and called Louvain). The second oldest to my knowledge is Leiden, where I'm going. A legendary universitary, especially known for its Law and its History studies.

 

Again it would depend on what you classify as a university.

 

Well this is Oxford.


I know it says
English speaking.


A Brief History of Oxford University





Oxford is an unique and historic institution. As the oldest English-speaking university in the world, it can lay claim to nine centuries of continuous existence. There is no clear date of foundation, but teaching existed at Oxford in some form in 1096 and developed rapidly from 1167, <b>when Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris. </b>

In 1188, the historian, Gerald of Wales, gave a public reading to the assembled Oxford dons and in 1190 the arrival of Emo of Friesland, the first known overseas student, set in train the University's tradition of international scholarly links. By 1201, the University was headed by a magister scolarum Oxonie, on whom the title of Chancellor was conferred in 1214, and in 1231 the masters were recognized as a universitas or corporation.

In the 13th century, rioting between town and gown (townspeople and students) hastened the establishment of primitive halls of residence. These were succeeded by the first of Oxford's colleges, which began as medieval 'halls of residence' or endowed houses under the supervision of a Master. University, Balliol and Merton Colleges, established between 1249 and 1264, are the oldest.

Less than a century later, Oxford had achieved eminence above every other seat of learning, and won the praises of popes, kings and sages by virtue of its antiquity, curriculum, doctrine and privileges. In 1355, Edward III paid tribute to the University for its invaluable contribution to learning; he also commented on the services rendered to the state by distinguished Oxford graduates.

Oxford early on became a centre for lively controversy, with scholars involved in religious and political disputes. John Wyclif, a 14th-century Master of Balliol, campaigned for a bible in the vernacular, against the wishes of the papacy. In 1530, Henry VIII forced the University to accept his divorce from Catherine of Aragon. During the Reformation in the 16th century, the Anglican churchmen Cranmer, Latimer and Ridley were tried for heresy and burnt at the stake in Oxford. The University was Royalist in the Civil War, and Charles I held a counter-Parliament in Convocation House.

In the late 17th century, the Oxford philosopher John Locke, suspected of treason, was forced to flee the country. The 18th century, when Oxford was said to have forsaken port for politics, was also an era of scientific discovery and religious revival. Edmund Halley, Professor of Geometry, predicted the return of the comet that bears his name; John and Charles Wesley's prayer meetings laid the foundations of the Methodist Society.

The University assumed a leading role in the Victorian era, especially in religious controversy. From 1833 onwards The Oxford Movement sought to revitalise the Catholic aspects of the Anglican Church. One of its leaders, John Henry Newman, became a Roman Catholic in 1845 and was later made a Cardinal. In 1860 the new University Museum was the scene of a famous debate between Thomas Huxley, champion of evolution, and Bishop Wilberforce.

From 1878, academic halls were established for women, who became members of the University in 1920. Since 1974, all but one of Oxford's 39 colleges have changed their statutes to admit both men and women. St Hilda's remains the only women's college.

During the 20th century, Oxford added to its humanistic core a major new research capacity in the natural and applied sciences, including medicine. In so doing, it has enhanced and strengthened its traditional role as an international focus for learning and a forum for intellectual debate.


About Leiden University and City

Mission
Remaining faithful to its historical mission, Leiden offers outstanding international students an intellectually exciting learning environment with high academic standards. The focus is not just on knowledge transfer but also on debate and critical thinking whereby students' ability to think independently is greatly stimulated.

Leiden offers students academic, personal and professional development and enables them to form international networks in the student-friendly and convenient environment of the historical city of Leiden

Traditional and Modern
Leiden University, founded in 1575, combines a long and venerable reputation with a youthful spirit...more

Education and Research
Nine Faculties offer many educational programmes taught in Dutch or English. Excellent research is carried out in one of the forty university research institutes...more

Studying in Leiden
Leiden University has many facilities for students...more

Student Life
Leiden has a rich student life, in which students can become a member of one of the numerous student associations...more

 

Fair enough...
Maybe my memory plays tricks on me and what I read was "second oldest of the Low lands".
Anyway, Leiden's where I'm going. But don't think that commercial GP posted is realistic!

 

Hey, 429 years old is still good!
The University I went to was opened in 1968!

 

Ha! So at least I can point and laugh at Ricky... Oh, what an evil remark.

 

Oh, the shame, my Uni is only 36 years old...
:lol:

 

Age doesn't matter, so long as you get a good, accurate education there. If a new university does this, fine; if one that's 600 years old does it, also fine.

 

i go 2 a cathedral(but i aint catholic) thats like 600yrs

 

Canada's oldest university is the University of King's College, established at Windsor, N.S., in 1789 and now in Halifax as part of Dalhousie University.

Thought it would be interesting bit of trivia.

 

My church was built in 1137 - most of it still dates from then!
(is this becoming an 'oldest buildings' competition?)

 

i live in exeter which pre dates roman times so is over 2000 years old although not the oldest city in england (think that goes to colchester).

also got an old school tie circa 1982 which is the most frightening stat of all.

what was this topic about again :roll: :roll:

 

post subject

It was actually started as "Shocking Stat's."
I think the following should qualify'
this Forum is credited as having 174 Members.
of these 23 have made no posts.
45 have made 3 or less (this does not include the 23 x0 posts above)
and I think that is shocking!

 

Post subject

So, further to the figures given by Trakpin if we take away the 45 x3 posts which total 135? from the posts given in total as 20776 at time of posting it leaves a total of 20641(I think) which divided by the members left 106(I think) give an average post of 194.7264 each!!!! I bet you really wanted to know that!
(As I have been attending the "University of Life" for getting on for 80 years I am quite happy to be corrected on these figures)

 

Re: Post subject

Same here, except I've only been attending for 42 years.

This is in addition to my time at the "School of Hard Knocks", from which I believe I'm going to graduate magna cum laude or summa cum laude.

 

It breeds tough men. Good for you! In a way.

Really, Leiden used to be a Roman settlement called Lugdunum Batavorum (yes, Lugdunum was Lyons). That's how old this city is!

 

Just as London started life as Lundinium (sp?).

 

Should I mention Luton has been continually settled since at least the Paeliolithic?


Anyway...

One shocking stat -
Most wars are lost by the aggressors.

I discovered this during my A-Levels. For my Maths project I did a statistical analysis of wars (to basically discover stuff like which side *should* come out best in any given theoretical conflict). While I did quite badly in my project (Statistics was never my best area, and much of my maths was irrelevant or simply wrong ) I did discover that the vast majority of my sample data (and, when thinking about it, most wars I know of) were lost by the side that was the initial aggressor. Or, in the case of wars like WW1, that just kinda grew & happened, by the side that invaded/attacked first.

Think about it, it works.