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Academy

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An academy is an institution dedicated to tertiary education, which is learning that happens after secondary school.

MANNapoli 124545 plato's academy mosaic
MANNapoli 124545 plato's academy mosaic

The term describes a place where people study specialized subjects. These subjects can include science, literature, or the arts. Some academies are professional or technical schools. Others are scientific or artistic societies established by public authority. The word "academia" refers to the whole system of gathering and passing on knowledge. It also describes the people who work to share that knowledge across generations.

The history of the academy begins in ancient Greece.

"The School of Athens" by Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino
"The School of Athens" by Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino

Before it was a school, the site was a sacred grove of olive trees. This grove was located north of Athens and was dedicated to Athena. Athena was the goddess of wisdom and skill. The site was originally called Hekademia, named after an Athenian hero named Akademos. In 387 BC, the philosopher Plato established the Old Academy in these gardens. He used the space to converse with his followers about philosophy.

Plato's school had many leaders, known as scholarchs, who followed him. His immediate successors included Speusippus, who led from 347 to 339 BC, and Xenocrates, who led from 339 to 314 BC. Other leaders included Polemon, Crates, and Arcesilaus. Many famous thinkers were members of the Academy, such as Aristotle. Aristotle eventually established his own school called the Lyceum in 335 BC. Later, the Academy was refounded during late antiquity by a group of Platonists. These scholars called themselves the "successors" of Plato to show their connection to his tradition.

In the 6th century AD, the Academy faced a major change. The emperor Justinian stopped providing funding for the school in AD 529. This event is often used by historians to mark the end of Antiquity. Some members of the school fled to find protection under the Sassanid king Khosrau I. They carried precious scrolls of literature, philosophy, and science with them. Some scholars believe these students may have eventually traveled to Harran. From there, their traditions might have helped fuel the Arabic revival of learning in Baghdad.

Many other great centers of learning emerged across the globe. In ancient India, the city of Taxila was a major center of learning. It may have existed as early as the 6th century BC. Students often entered Taxila at age sixteen to study the Vedas and eighteen different arts. These arts included medicine, law, and military science. Another massive institution was Nalanda, founded in 427 AD in India.

Nalanda University India ruins
Nalanda University India ruins

Nalanda featured a nine-story library and could house 10,000 students and 2,000 professors at its peak.

In Africa and China, academies also played vital roles in society. The University of Timbuktu in Mali was a major center of learning. During its most successful period, it had about 25,000 students in a city of 100,000 people. In China, the Imperial Central Academy was founded in 258. It was a comprehensive institution that combined both education and research. It eventually became Nanjing University. China also had many privately owned institutions called Shuyuan, which were recorded in the thousands during ancient times.

The Islamic world also developed famous institutions for higher learning. The Mustansiriya Madrasah was established in Baghdad in 1227 by the Abbasid Caliph al-Mustansir. This school had a massive library that started with 80,000 volumes. The collection eventually grew to 400,000 volumes. In Persia, the Academy of Gundishapur taught important subjects like medicine, astronomy, and logic. This academy later helped serve as a model for the first Muslim hospital in Damascus.

Today, the term academy applies to many different types of institutions. Some prepare people for specific careers, such as the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Main Gate, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, June 2024
Main Gate, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, June 2024

This academy is used to prepare military officers. In Europe, some academic institutions have operated for many centuries. The University of Bologna in Italy was established in 1088 and is the oldest in continuous operation. The University of Naples was founded in 1224 by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II.

ChiostroPietroMartireNapoli
ChiostroPietroMartireNapoli

These institutions continue the long tradition of organized learning.

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🖼️ Images & Media (11)
File:Archiginnasio ora blu Bologna.jpg
Archiginnasio ora blu Bologna.jpg
File:Main Gate, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, June 2024.jpg
Main Gate, Royal Military Academy...
File:MANNapoli 124545 plato's academy mosaic.jpg
MANNapoli 124545 plato's academy mosaic.jpg
File:"The School of Athens" by Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino.jpg
"The School of Athens" by Raffaello...
File:Nalanda University India ruins.jpg
Nalanda University India ruins.jpg
File:The ancient university of Nalanda in Bihar, India, November 1996.jpg
The ancient university of Nalanda in...
File:ChiostroPietroMartireNapoli.jpg
ChiostroPietroMartireNapoli.jpg
File:Athens academy.jpg
Athens academy.jpg
File:Univesidad Åbo Akademi.jpg
Univesidad Åbo Akademi.jpg
File:French academies map.svg
French academies map.svg
File:phdposing.png
phdposing.png
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