Salamanca through the eyes of a university professor of the XVI century

Thedetailed narratives written by contemporaries on the universities of the early modern times are not numerous. For this reason, special valuehas evidence, written by the members of the university corporation, who have an idea of the subject from the inside. To such kind ofexamples in Spain of the XVI century belongs Spanish scientist Perez de Mesa, who devoted a chapter of one of his works to the oldestSpanish University in Salamanca. Diego Perez de Mesa was born in 1563, studied at Salamanca. Lectures of the famous mathematicianJerome Muñoz awakened in him a deep interest in science. The atmosphere of the oldest Spanish University had an enormous influence inshaping the future of the scientist personality . In 1586 he began teaching mathematics at the University of Alcala de Henares. During thisperiod, in the circles of the Spanish educated elite there was some interest in the development of exact sciences. In Salamanca, at theinsistence of the King, the preparation of these disciplines has been raised to a new level, aided by some material support from the royalpower. The teacher of Perez de Mesa I. Munoz as an outstanding cosmography and mathematician, was specially invited from Valencia tostrengthen the Salamanca school. Not less recognition enjoyed the student of Muñoz Pérez de Mesa at the University of Alcala de Henares.The younger University at that time exceeded Salamanca in the number of outstanding mathematicians. It is here that the activities of theyoung licentiate, and then master was noticed by the king. In 1595 Perez de Mesa on behalf of Philip II was sent to Seville, where for fiveyears taught mathematics and wrote several scientific papers. Then for a long time he was in Italy and died in 1633. In the creative heritageof the the Spanish scientist holds a special place the work entitled "The Book of the greatness and sights in Spain." This work is remaking ofthe book published in 1543 by Sevillian author Pedro de Medina. The book was prepared by Mesa in two parts, the first of which contains adescription of the most important events in the history of Spain. In the second part, provides a detailed description of the attractions of citiesin Spain. The chapter of Salamanca draws a detailed picture of the famous city and its academic environment. The picture presented byMesa, helps to understand better the reality of Salamanca in the era of its Golden Age In the view of the author gets almost all the space ofeveryday university life, including colleges, chapels, hospital, library. In general, the author paints a picture of a perfect structure, and onlythe righteous life of the university of Salamanca Corporation. This is at variance with the evidenced by the university documents of the age.However, such an extremely positive perception of the author described the subject finds its explanation in the fact that Perez de Mesa looksat his Alma Mater through the eyes of its success and grateful pupil.

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