Oxford (left), Cambridge (right)
The two greatest academic centers of England—Oxford and Cambridge—are steeped in history that reaches back to the 12th and 13th centuries. The dozens of constituent colleges at both universities have their own stories, with many famous people having studied and taught at both institutions, such as Charles Darwin at Cambridge and J.R.R. Tolkien at Oxford—not to mention royals, prime ministers, and Nobel Prize winners.
The college libraries offer glimpses of the Middle Ages; the quads, chapels, and gardens remain places of serene beauty; the River Thames and the River Cam add natural beauty; and the significant amounts of preserved historical and cultural material, including great collections of medieval manuscripts, continue to attract scholars to the two cities.
Scholar and historian Gary Rendsburg has resided and conducted academic research in both cities. In a richly illustrated program, he brings the verve and culture of these great university towns to life, sharing history flavored with a pleasant dose of Anglophilia. Rendsburg is the Blanche and Irving Laurie professor of Jewish history in the department of Jewish Studies at Rutgers University.
10–11:30 a.m. Oxford: City of Dreaming Spires
11:45 a.m.–1 p.m. Cambridge: Ancient Colleges, Milton and Newton, Darwin and DNA
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