Information Text: Kraków - Renaissance - Jagielloński University: 16th century centre of sciences and knowledge

In the 16^th century, the University in Kraków belonged to the group of the most outstanding universities of that time. The developing Academy was very attractive to students coming from various parts of the world. A high number of matriculated students, exceeding 3000 in the first decade of the 16^th century, was the clear proof of the University’s popularity. Foreign students constituted a great percentage of the students, amongst which Hungarians were the biggest group. There were also numerous Czech, Ruthenian, Lithuanian, German and Austrian students. Also students from Italy, Spain, Denmark, Flanders and England studied there. On one hand, the coexistence of so many various nationalities was a source of cultural and custom differences. On the other hand, it was a chance to learn compromise and mutual tolerance.

Furthermore, an active exchange of professors took place. The Transylvanian geographer, Jan Honter; the eminent Hebraist, Walerian Pernus; Piotr Rozjusz, poet and lawyer, a specialist in the Roman law and Walenty Eck from Switzerland lecturing on poetry taught there. Yet, the University was most famous for its Mathematics and Astronomy Faculties. Professors from Vienna, Heidelberg, Leipzig, Wittenberg and Frankfurt on the Main furthered their education there. Numerous astronomical and mathematical code books found in Western European libraries are the clear and lasting proof of the University’s authority and leading role in these areas of science. Courses in antic culture and ancient languages were yet another crucial element contributing to the University’s high rank amongst other educational institutions. Latin was the language of instruction, introducing Greek was a novelty and teaching Hebrew was a major breakthrough in the 16^th century educational culture. The University was constantly developed and extended in later centuries, an example of which is the brick neogothic building of Collegium Novum.

Humanism: term freely applied to a variety of beliefs, methods and philosophies that place central emphasis on the human realm. The term is also used with reference to system of education and mode of inquiry developed in northern Italy during the 14th century and later spread through Europe.