The university as a medieval social innovation: The Pope, the Prince and the City

Authors

• Jussi Välimaa Jyväskylän yliopisto

Abstract

This study discusses the nature of the university as a medieval European social innovation. The author suggests that the emergence of European universities can be explained with the help of three social actors that are important for their development. These were 'the Pope', representing the research funder and academic gatekeeper; 'the Prince', symbolizing the territorial ruler and legislator; and 'the City', as being an actor that reveals the importance of local communities with whom the guilds of students and professors needed to negotiate on practical matters. The article suggests that local conditions in medieval Bologna and Paris were essential for the establishment of two different ideal types of universities: the University of Bologna as an example of a university ruled by students, and the University of Paris as an example of a university ruled by professors, masters. The article is based on academic research literature.