Nature, Enlightenment, and University Reforms in the Iberian Peninsula

Nature, Enlightenment, and University Reforms in the Iberian Peninsula

A Comparative Analysis of the Universities of Salamanca and Coimbra (1766-1820)

The university reforms that took place in Europe throughout the 18th century were an important moment of change in the history of these institutions. In the Iberian Peninsula, this wave of reforms left its mark in Coimbra and Salamanca (later reaching the other Spanish universities). Portugal and Spain were no strangers to the motivations and even to the general lines of this wave of reforms. Inseparable from the ideas of the Enlightenment, and with a clear will to combat the backwardness and decadence of these institutions, rather ambitious projects emerged, albeit in different degrees. Coimbra faced a rather disruptive initial situation while in Salamanca later plans (1807, for example) proved to be quite ambitious as well. All having a mandatory nature, it would not be correct to say that these Universities did not participate in these processes of reform. Individually or on behalf of collective bodies, several initiatives and proposals emerged during this period in both Universities. In addition, the participation of professors in the statutes and plans that were launched since 1771 is recurrent. Beyond this aspect, it will not be forced to state that the curricular aspect was the most significant mark of these reforms. Thus, we chose to study in a comparative way subjects that sought to explain the concept of nature and its products. With the clear objective of preparing a body of technicians capable of providing a rational and effective exploitation of the various natural products, the faculties of mathematics and philosophy emerged. In the case of medicine, natural products were essential to produce medicines and in this sense the reform of this knowledge brought, among other changes, matters linked to pharmaceutical studies. In the area of law, a relevant introduction was natural law. The perception of natural law was not similar in both countries, and an evident consequence was the greater instability of this chair in Salamanca. Inseparable from the curricular aspects was the adoption of foreign compendia and the encouragement given to the teachers to write their own textbooks. The adoption of textbooks was quite similar, and clearly shows us the lines that reformers sought to follow to modernize these university institutions.

  • Cover
  • Title page
  • Copyright page
  • Índice
  • Introduction
    • 1. Historiographical review
    • 2. Research problems
    • 3. Primary sources: Unveiling dynamics and influences
    • 4. A comparative approach
    • 5. Chronological and thematic delimitation
  • Enlightenmenth and universities
    • 1. University reforms in the context of the Enlightenment
    • 2. The university landscape in Europe: evolution of institutional models
    • 3. Patterns of university reforms in the second half of the 18th century
    • 4. University reforms in the Iberian Peninsula
    • 5. Natural knowledge and universities
  • Study nature at the universities of salamanca and coimbra (18th-19th centuries)
    • 1. Natural Law in Salamanca and Coimbra (18th and 19th centuries)
    • 2. Natural Sciences (Medicine, Philosophy, and Mathematics)
      • 2.1. Medical courses relateda to the study of nature
      • 2.2. Natural subjects in arts, philosophy and mathematics
  • Teachers and compendia
    • 1. Evolution of the teaching career
    • 2. The teacher researcher
    • 3. Compendiums of natural law
    • 4. Compendia for medical courses
    • 5. Compendiums for courses in the arts and philosophy course
    • 6. Compendiums for astronomy (in mathematics and arts)
    • Conclusion
  • Primary sources
  • References
  • Annex
    • Maps
    • Tables
    • Biographical Informations

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