It is the fourth oldest university in Europe and the first in Spain.
In their classrooms taught or learned personalities as important to history or literature as Fray Luis de León, Francisco de Vitoria, Miguel de Unamuno, San Juan de la Cruz, Antonio de Nebrija, Hernán Cortes, Mateo Aleman, Francisco de Rojas, Calderon de la Barca, Mazarin, Luis de Góngora.
In his faculty was discussed the feasibility of the project of Christopher Columbus, the rights of indigenous and was renewed theology, economics, law, and even the calendar.