Original scientific paper
The Studies of Exact and Natural Sciences in the History of the Dubrovnik Dominicans
Franjo Šanjek
Abstract
Immense interest for books and sciences all over the western world caused opening of universities in the 13th century. Social, economic and political affairs in Europe were tending to gain an intellectual dimension. The development of sciences required well organized and constituted schooling systems. With respect to the organization of the studies the Dominicans were to play a significant part. Their holy order was established according to the manner of university corporations, whose members dedicated themselves to intellectual work and constant study.
The Dominicans convict was already founded in Dubrovnik in 1225/26 and eagerly supported the idea of organizing secondary and high schooling among the Croatians: »studia solemnia« in Split, Dubrovnik, Zagreb, Čazma etc.; »studium generale« in Zadar.
Special merit must be paid to Augustin Kažotić from Trogir and Ivan Stojković from Dubrovnik. The first organized the cathedral school in Zagreb. He required from his students to be taught »the essentials of human knowledge in the least« or the seven »free skills« (grammar, dialectics, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy). The latter suggested a course in »popular Croatian language or standard Latin«.
»Curriculum vitae« of eminent friars from the St. Blase Republic, preserved archive documents, manuscripts codexes and incunabula from the St. Dominic library in Dubrovnik give proof of effort the Dominican made in developing the studies of natural philosophy, exact, natural and technical sciences — a demanding cost of human progress.
Keywords
dominicans; Science; Dubrovnik
Hrčak ID:
240901
URI
Publication date:
30.6.1991.
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