What is the history of Universities / higher education?

Question

Tell me man!

Answer 1

The first western european university I believe was Bologna, in today Italy, 14th century. But it seems that universities as we know them are a Islamic contribution and may be found in places like Cairo as early as the 10th century. For a large list of sources look at
http://books.google.com/books?q=%22history+of+universities%22
Look also at the wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University
very intersting on the possibility of even an earlier university type of institution in China

Answer 2

they exist since the XIV century at least, in England, France and Italy first, then elsewhere in Europe.
They are a way to provide specialistic education without having to learn everything as a trade. In particular, early universities provided courses in Law, Medecine and Theology.