Domestic project

Religious Orders’ “Studia” as an Alternative to University Education. Case Study of the Bohemian-Moravian Capuchin Province, 1673–1783

Provider: The Czech Science Foundation
| Project duration: 2025–2027
| Project ID: GA25-15886S

The project’s aim is to assess to what extent, in the Czech Lands in the Early Modern Era, private education in religious orders functioned as an alternative or even competition to public university education. It will focus on studia in the Bohemian-Moravian Capuchin province (incl. Silesian convents) since its foundation in 1673 until the dissolution of studia in religious orders in 1783. The research will cover the operation of Capuchin studia, present the study of philosophy and theology as part of religious formation (incl. its impact on individual careers), describe the curriculum, and outline the personalities of teachers (lectors), including a reconstruction and systemisation of their careers. Comparisons will be made with the style of instruction, curriculum, and personnel involved in education organised by other religious orders (Premonstratensians, Cistercians, Dominicans, etc.) and at public universities, which were in the subjects in question for most of the period after the 1620 Battle at the White Mountain (and until mid-18th century) fully under Jesuit control.

Investigator

Marek Brčák
PhDr., Ph.D.

Coinvestigator

Kateřina Bobková-Valentová
Mgr., Ph.D.

Beneficiary

Institute of the History of Charles University and Archive of Charles University

Cobeneficiary

Institute of History, Czech Academy of Sciences