The role of Padua in educating intellectuals who operated between the 16th and 17th century will be explored in the framework of the major countries and major European political and cultural institutions. A mapping of the attendance and degree programmes of those who, having returned home, became magistrates, high-ranking officials, doctors or diplomats, and of the extensive network of contacts often founded on the shared past of students from Padua. The intellectuals will include writers, philosophers, scientists, doctors and bibliophiles, as well as spies and servants, in various capacities, of the French, English, Polish, Habsburg monarchies, or of the principalities of German language, all closely connected to the Europe of culture. The role of the Academies (Infiammati, Elevati, Ricoverati) will also be highlighted and therefore, broadly speaking, the role of the city, which merged with the University to create a place for the exchange, meeting and passage of men, books and ideas.
Project manager: DiSLL – Department of Linguistic and literary Studies / Anna Bettoni