The Study On The Gresham College In The 17^th Century

This research tries to restore the historical facts of Gresham College in the 17^thh century,supplementing the domestic academic community’s understanding of the early modern England higher education,and thus serving the development of China’s higher education.Looking back on the social history of the Tudor dynasty in the 16th century,the crisis of foreign trade and the urgent problem of social poverty tested the ruling ability of ruling class.Sir Thomas Gresham’s idea of supporting a college on the income of the Royal Exchange became a reality after his and his wife died.Gresham College officially offered astronomy,geometry,music,rhetoric,theology,law,physic lectures to natives and foreigners in London in 1597.In the first half of the 17^thcentury,Gresham College became the center of England science activities.During the Civil War,Gresham College was expropriated by the army.After the great fire in the 1666,Gresham College became the center of Urban Public Affairs.Despite the fighting,Gresham College professors,with their professional knowledge,made many achievements in scientific research.They mainly embodied in mathematical knowledge and tools applied in the navigation,medicine,New Philosophy and so on.Gresham College played an important historical role in the England in modern times.On the economic front,Gresham College improved the comprehensive quality of workers and helped development of economy.In terms of culture,Gresham College disseminated scientific knowledge and created a good atmosphere in London to study the New philosophy,giving birth to the Royal Society.At the same time,the teaching activities of Gresham College promoted the popularization of higher education and maintained the steady development of the society.All in all,Gresham College in the 17th century made a unique and important contribution to the social development.