Povijesni prilozi, Vol. 28 No. 36, 2009.
Review article
The contribution of Pavao Skalić to the Croatian and European humanistic heritage
Zrinka Novak
; Zavod za povijesne znanosti Odsjeka za društvene i povijesne znanosti HAZU
Abstract
On the basis of an analysis of published sources and literature, this essay systematically overviews the life, activity and contributions to the European and Croatian humanist-Renaissance tradition of the famous humanist from Zagreb, Pavao Skalić (1534–1575). A polyhistor, philosopher, theologian and polemist, Skalić studied philosophy in Vienna and obtained a doctorate of theology from
the University of Bologna in 1522. For impersonating (Scaliger), provocations and criticisms of the structures of the Roman Catholic Church, Skalić was forced to leave Vienna but he managed to stay in the elite circles of the European nobility and attend many noble courts. In Tübingen he converted to Protestant faith and socialized with Protestant intellectuals: Primož Trubar, Peter Paul Vergerius Jr.,
Ivan Ungnad, Stjepan Konzul and Antun Dalmatin. Towards the end of his life he returned into the folds of the Roman Catholic Church and wrote polemical treatises against Protestants and Protestantism (for instance against P. P. Vergerius, in 1563). Skalić was highly ambitious and cared less for systematic studies and thorough research. He was just twenty years old when in Bologna he published a book titled Conclusiones in omni genere scientiarum (‘Conclusions in all kinds of sciences’) in which he divided sciences into divine, angelical, heavenly, elementary and of hell. Among his best known publications are the books Encyclopediae seu Orbis disciplinarum tam sacrarum quam prophanarum, Epistemon, where the word “encyclopaedia” is mentioned for the first time in the European written tradition.
Keywords
Pavao Skalić; Protestantism; Roman Catholic Church; church history; humanism
Hrčak ID:
40278
URI
Publication date:
30.7.2009.
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