Science Teaching in Early Modern Europe

Cristoforo Clavio’s Ordo servandus in addiscendis disciplinis mathematicis
and Mathematics teaching in early modern Jesuit colleges

The Ordo servandus in addiscendis disciplinis mathematicis is a milestone in the history of mathematics teaching. Conceived by Cristoph Clavius for the Jesuit colleges, it was not only a syllabus for mathematical studies for the students at Jesuit colleges but also an instrument for training mathematics teachers themselves. There are actually three, in all. The first was aimed at general college studies, the second provided in-depth study of mathematics and the last was directed at training mathematics teachers for the Jesuit colleges. Its enormity, its coherence and its skillful, innovative, modular format have made it a masterpiece of pedagogic engineering. This marks the end of a long and arduous journey throughout which Clavius’ patient and persistent persuasion convinced the Society of Jesus that mathematics should be an integral part of the syllabus in Jesuit colleges.