The History of the Roman College

The order's principal, ignatius of loyola, had fretted that taking on responsibility for institutions would hinder their mobility. But he was soon persuaded that education could be a potent instrument of cultural influence and religious transformation. Their first college was established in messina in sicily in 15 forty eight dozens of colleges were built throughout italy under the patronage of the local nobility and of rulers. Within decades, there were several hundred jesuit institutions of learning across europe, latin america and asia. Most prominent among them was christopher clavius who taught mathematics and astronomy to generations of students.