Teaching & Learning in the Renaissance ~Thurs 24 Sept 2026
Ever wondered what education was like before modern schools and universities? Step back into the world of Renaissance learning! Join us for an engaging and accessible day of talks exploring how people learned, travelled, and shared ideas during one of the most fascinating periods in European history. Through lively presentations from Warwick researchers, you'll uncover the people, places, and ideas that transformed education and intellectual life during the Renaissance. No previous knowledge is required鈥攋ust curiosity and an interest in history, culture, and lifelong learning.
Discover:
What it was like to attend a Renaissance grammar school
How medieval and Renaissance universities shaped knowledge across Europe
Why travel was considered one of the greatest forms of education
The important role of Latin in spreading ideas and culture
The remarkable stories of teachers, students, scholars, and travellers in the Renaissance world
Teaching will take place in the Faculty of Arts building, room 2.32.
Schedule
10-10.50am: Session one
11-12 noon: Session two
12-1pm: Lunch break (provided)
1-1.50pm: Session three
2-3pm: Session four
3-3.30pm: conclusions and discussion
Confirmed speaker Clive Letchford has provided a draft title and abstract: 'A school like any other? Shakespeare and an English grammar school education.' What did a schoolboy in a typical grammar school in Elizabethan England learn, and how was he taught? To what extent was Shakespeare鈥檚 experience at the Kynges New School typical? This session explores what we know of schooling in early modern England, including the account of a Plymouth schoolmaster, to illuminate the most formative influence on Shakespeare鈥檚 intellectual development.
Confirmed speaker David Lines has provided a draft title and abstract: 'Universities in the Renaissance.' How did professors teach and students learn in medieval and Renaissance Europe? This talk will look at developments from the thirteenth to the sixteenth century, particularly from the thirteenth to the sixteenth century, comparing the model of education in northern Europe (e.g., Paris) to that in Italy (e.g., Bologna and Padua).
Confirmed speaker Tim Wade has provided a draft title and abstract: 'People, places and a few plants: Travel as a form of Renaissance learning'. Not all learning took place in the classroom or lecture hall during the Renaissance. Many scholars travelled in and around Europe locating ancient monuments, discussing books or collecting natural specimens. This talk will follow in the footsteps of a few Renaissance travellers to see what could be learnt along the way.
Confirmed speaker Valeria Cesaraccio has provided a draft title and abstract: 'Latin and Vernacular in Italy: From Dante to Sixteenth-Century Schools'. What was the relationship between Latin and the vernacular in Italy towards the end of the Middle Ages, how did it evolve over the centuries, and how did it influence education? This talk will trace the history of Latin-vernacular bilingualism in Italy from the late Middle Ages to the Renaissance, focusing on its significance in the context of teaching and learning.
The study day will start at 10am, and conclude circa 3.30pm and will take place in room 2.32 in the Faculty of Arts Building (FAB). The programme will include four, 50 mins sessions delivered by academic members of the Centre (links above). Tea/coffee, lunch and parking will be provided. The cost of the course is 拢40pp, numbers will be limited to around twelve, and the deadline for applications is 8am on Monday 14th September.
Shakespeare's School
Registration here. Payment will be taken closer to the time.
Participants accepted onto the 2026 course, should familiarise themselves with the applicable T&Cs, including cancellation policy, HERE.