University colleges of Salamanca in early modern times

The first university colleges in Europe appear in Europe at the end of 12 - the beginning of the 13th centuries. Initially their creation was based on idea of charity; they arose as hostels for poor students who weren't able to pay for housing and food and to have necessary conditions for study. Over time colleges turn into training centers where association of students takes place not only by the principle of associations, but also owing to specifics and education level. Emergence of colleges as self-sufficient educational institutions marked the beginning of a peculiar process of decentralization of training. Colleges were more and more perceived as the centers of secular academic life, and by the end of 15 - the beginning of the 16th century new, humanistic values were widely adopted here. In Spanish academic life University colleges begin to play a noticeable role from 16th century. During this era their number grows, their relations with the power and influence on educated state elite get stronger. The aspiration of colleges to an autonomy, to parallel teaching and the right of award of academic degrees gradually awakens in them centrifugal forces in relation to the University. Self-sufficiency and aspiration to independence meanwhile first of all characterizes the Senior colleges of Salamanca University, the oldest in Spain. These colleges represented small autonomous student's communities. Their charters and privileges granted by the royal or papal power were considered often as fundamental in spite of the fact that their members submitted to the rector of the University. Having own academic council or council of pupils, the college resolved through it all major issues of the internal life - questions of management and acceptance of new members, questions of property, appointment to positions, and if necessary and at a sufficient majority of votes it was possible to make amendments to the existing charter. In the 16th century colleges begin to oppose openly them to an academic council of the University, to compete to it, seek to substitute it; quite often it came to open discords and litigates. Four Senior colleges of Salamanca - St. Bartholomew's college, college of Cuenca, Oviedo college, college of the Archbishop - had the huge academic and social importance not only at the University, but also in the state life of Spain of the of 16 - 17 th centuries. These colleges graduated future state and church figures of the country. Persons who entered University college passed «purity of blood» test, personal qualities testing of the applicant and his family environment. The indispensable initial condition for entering the college - poverty - ceases to be considered over time, and natives of the titled nobility begin to come to the Senior colleges. Thus, granting the place and a grant in college has lost the initial charitable sense, and receiving it has turned into means of achievement of high church and state posts.

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