These permanent corporations, dedicated to the advancement of learning and the instruction of youth, first arose, early in the twelfth century, at Salerno, at Bologna and at Paris.

As off-shoots of these, or in imitation of them, many similar institutions sprang up in every land of western Europe.

The last half of the fifteenth century was especially rich in such foundations.

In Germany, from 1450 to 1517, no less than nine new academies were started: Greifswald 1456, Freiburg in the Breisgau 1460, Basle 1460, Ingolstadt 1472, Treves 1473, Mayence 1477, Tuebingen 1477, Wittenberg 1502, and Frankfort on the Oder 1506.

Though generally founded by papal charter, and maintaining a strong ecclesiastical flavor, these institutions were under the direction of the civil government.
In France three new universities opened their doors during the same period: Valence 1459, Nantes 1460, Bourges 1464.