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Universities rank among the great achievements in the history of the world. And yet very little is known about their formation and development. Against the backdrop of the much-discussed transition into the ´´knowledge society´´ and the completely new challenges to politics, economics, science and research which this involves, this six-part documentary embarks upon a voyage in time and throughout the world to European universities in the past and present. With the decline of the Roman Empire Europe fell into a long period of lethargy. Only with the advent of the new thriving cities did the search for education and progress, for knowledge and erudition become increasingly important. The triumphal march of the European universities began in the 11th century with the first foundations in Bologna, Paris and Oxford. From here the ´´power of knowledge´´ spread swiftly through the - entire continent: within a very short time more than 30 universities were exerting their influence on the cities and regions of Europe. We know these universities not least because of their famous names: Copernicus, Marie Curie, Sigmund Freud… Scientists, researchers, discoverers, literati and philosophers who changed the world and who still serve as the exemplary ´´figureheads´´ of these universities.