When we think of ancient centers of learning, institutions like Oxford or the Sorbonne might come to mind. However, the title for the oldest university in the world goes to a place far older and perhaps less known in the Western world: the University of al-Qarawiyyin in Fes, Morocco. Let’s take a closer look.
University of al-Qarawiyyin: The Foundation
The University of al-Qarawiyyin began its journey as a madrasa, an Islamic institution for higher education. It was founded in 859 AD by Fatima al-Fihri. Fatima al-Fihri, herself an educated woman and the daughter of a wealthy merchant family, used her inheritance to fund the construction of both a mosque and the associated school in the heart of Fes.
Recognition as a University
While al-Qarawiyyin was initially recognized as a religious school, it gradually expanded its curriculum to include subjects like natural sciences, mathematics, astronomy, chemistry, and philosophy. It has been acknowledged by UNESCO and the Guinness World Records as the oldest existing, continually operating higher educational institution in the world.
Its Historical Impact
Al-Qarawiyyin played a crucial role in the cultural and academic relations between the Islamic world and Europe. Notable scholars and philosophers who studied and taught there contributed significantly to the intellectual and cultural exchange that influenced the European Renaissance.