Education

Medieval Students

There are no surviving primary documents on the early years of Copernicus' childhood and education. Probably, Nicolaus Copernicus gained primary education in the parochial school in Toruń. In the local school he learnt how to write and read. He also learnt Latin and the basis of logic. The basic knowledge he gained in his hometown let Copernicus to start studying at the University of Cracow.

Church of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist- the place of Copernicus' baptism. Near the church there was a school where he attended as a child.

When Copernicus’ father died his uncle Lucas Watzenrode the Younger took the boy under his wing and became his protector. Thanks to Watzenrode’s financial support Nicolaus Copernicus and his brother Andreas could afford to study on an academic level. Copernicus began his studies in the Department of Arts acquiring the foundations for his subsequent mathematical achievements. The studies gave him a grounding in the mathematical astronomy taught at the University (arithmetic, geometry, geometric optics, cosmography and astronomy) and a good knowledge of the philosophical and natural-science writings of Aristotle. Copernicus' four years in Cracow initiated his analysis of logical contradictions in the two "official" systems of astronomy—Aristotle's theory of homocentric spheres, and Ptolemy's mechanism. Copernicus didn’t get any academic degree, because it would be an obsctacle to study abroad.

Collegium Maius- the oldest part of the Cracow University

Without taking a degree, Copernicus left Cracow for the court of his uncle Watzenrode, who wanted to place his nephew in the Warmia canonry. For unclear reasons—probably due to opposition from part of the chapter, Copernicus' installation was delayed, inclining Watzenrode to send both his nephews to study canon law in Italy. Copernicus went to Bologna and signed himself into the register of the Bologna University.

The Bologna University

It should be assumed that before becoming a student of Civil and Canon Law Copernicus must have become a ‘Master of Liberal Arts’. Copernicus studied Roman Law and  Canon Law.  Presumably, Copernicus started reading Greek and medicine at the Faculty of Arts (artes). He did not abandon his beloved astronomy and conducted some observations which confirmed his earlier objections about the geocentric model of the universe. He also  befriended Professor Domenico Maria Novara of Ferrara and  assisted him in his astronomical observations. Together they went to Rome in the jubilee year of 1500  to conduct observations and where, Copernicus might have given his only one public lecture. In Rome he observed the eclipse of the moon. In the summer of 1501 Copernicus left Italy and went to Warmia in order to personally ask the chapter to allow him to continue his studies. 

Copernicus is giving a lecture

Nicolaus Copernicus was given permission to study medicine at the University of Padua in order to become a medical advisor to his uncle and other canons from the chapter. In Padua Copernicus focused mainly on medical studies. He was interested in ancient authorities such as Hippocrates, Galen and Avicenna, studied the anatomy of the human body and the healing properties of herbs. Copernicus must have covered all the material constituting an artium baccalaurens (three year) degree because when he came back to Prussia he had a good reputation as a physician.

The University of Padua

In Padua Copernicus also studied languages. He learnt classical Greek well enough to start translating Simocatta’s Letters. On January 1503 he left Padua for Ferrara to sit a doctoral examination in Canon Law. Here, in May 1503 Copernicus took all the required examinations on Decretes and Decretalia and earned a doctorate in Canon Law, receiving then the following doctoral insignia: a biretta and ring. 

The University of Ferrara

Co-author: Karolina Mazurczak, 2F