The University of Geneva began as the Academy of Geneva, founded by the reformer John Calvin to train pastors for the Protestant Reformation and to educate the city's elite. Theodore de Beze, a close associate of Calvin, was its first rector, and the school drew students from across Europe, making Geneva a centre of Reformed theology. Over the following centuries, it added courses in law, medicine and the sciences, and in 1873 it was made a full university. Its alumni and staff include many scientists and scholars, including Jean Piaget and Ferdinand de Saussure. Today it is a leading research university, and has links to CERN and to international organisations based in the city.
Before and after
- 24 September 1557Death of Jacques Cartier
- from 17 January 1558 to 26 May 1583Livonian War
- from 23 August 1558 to 26 August 1558Expedition of Mostaganem
- 21 September 1558Death of Charles V
- 1559Founding of University of Geneva
- from 1560 to 1621Portuguese conquest of the Jaffna kingdom
- 1560Construction of Humayun's Tomb
- from 9 May 1560 to 14 May 1560Battle of Djerba
- 22 January 1561Birth of Francis Bacon
More in Society, economy & sport
- 1632Founding of University of Amsterdam
- 8 September 1636Founding of Harvard University
- 26 March 1640Founding of University of Helsinki
- 19 December 1666Founding of Lund University
- 27 July 1694Founding of Bank of England
- 1698Founding of London Stock Exchange
The era
This moment belongs to the Early modern world (1500 CE to 1760 CE), voyages, printing and new ideas. You can also browse everything in the 16th century.