Click here for the Wikipedia list of medieval universities in Europe and their background.
Modern Greece
The University of Athens was founded on 3 May 1837 by King Otto of Greece (in Greek, Óthon) and was named in his honour Othonian University (Οθώνειον Πανεπιστήμιον). The Greek word is "Pan-epi-stimio" All that which you stand upon" i.e. all science/knowledge The main university in Fez, Morocco, is the University of al-Qarawiyyin, which is considered by UNESCO and Guinness World Records to be the world's oldest continuously operating university, founded in 859 CE by Fatima al-Fihri. Originally a mosque and madrasa, it was incorporated into the modern Moroccan university system in 1963 and now offers degrees in various fields, with a particular emphasis on Islamic studies. First University in Moscow Establishment: The university was founded on the initiative of Ivan Shuvalov and Mikhail Lomonosov, with the decree for its creation signed by Empress Elizabeth on January 25, 1755. Original faculties: In the 18th century, it operated with three departments: philosophy, medicine, and law. Ancient India (Sanskrit texts using the Brahmi script) The ancient world saw the rise of major centers of learning in India, such as Nalanda Mahavihara (founded in 427 CE) and Taxila (established around 1000 BCE). These were highly influential, attracting thousands of students from across Asia to study a wide range of subjects, including philosophy, medicine, mathematics, and astronomy. Nalanda, in particular, is often referred to as one of the world's first residential universities. First Modern Universities in India The first modern, Western-style universities in India were established by the British East India Company in the mid-19th century. The three presidential universities were modeled on the University of London and established in 1857: University of Calcutta: Established on January 24, 1857, it is generally recognized as the first in modern India. University of Mumbai: Established on July 18, 1857. University of Madras: Also established in 1857 China The Mandarin Chinese term "Daxue" (大學) ("Dah-shooa") literally translates to "Great Learning" or "Great Study" and is also the name for a university or college in Chinese. It refers to both a classical Confucian text and a modern term for higher education. Click here for variations in Japanese, Korean, Cantonese etc Arabic In Arabic it is جامعة (pronounced jā-meeah). It is derived from the root word jama'a, meaning "to gather" or "to collect," reflecting the idea of a university as a place where scholars and students come together. The plural form is جامعات (pronounced jām-meeat). Hebrew In Hebrew אוּנִיבֶרְסִיטָה (on-ee-versita) Einstein's universe is olam עוֹלָם meaning "vanishing point, forever" or ye-koom יְקוּם living substance in Gen 7:4 Evolution - in Hebrew The Hebrew word הִתְפַּתְּחוּת (hitpatkhut) means "development" or "evolution". It's derived from the root פ.ת.ח (p.t.kh), which generally relates to opening or unfolding. The prefix "hit-" indicates a reflexive action, suggesting a process of unfolding or developing from within. Here's a breakdown: פ.ת.ח (p.t.kh): This root signifies "to open," "to widen," or "to unfold". It's the foundation for the word's core meaning. הִתְ (hit-): This prefix denotes a reflexive action. In this case, it indicates that the subject is opening or developing itself. -וּת (-ut): This suffix forms a noun, indicating the state or process of something. Therefore, הִתְפַּתְּחוּת (hitpatkhut) combines the idea of opening or unfolding with a reflexive action, resulting in the meaning of development or evolution.
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