The university of Sorbonne is the first stop in this tour and it was constructed very early in history around 1257 in response to the increase in Parisian schools that were situated in proximity to each other on the hill called the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève [1]. From then, during the 13^th century, the Sorbonne was transformed into a unified group of teachers and students who resided in the University which culminated in the most esteemed theologian and religious community.[2] This University is arguably the beginning of where the University infrastructure began in history!

[1] https://www.sorbonne.fr/en/the-sorbonne/history-of-the-sorbonne/la-fondation-de-la-sorbonne-au-moyen-age-par-le-theologien-robert-de-sorbon/. Accessed on November 11, 2017.

[2] Ibid.

20,000 students attended the University of Paris (la Sorbonne) by the culmination of the Middle Ages and manifested into the largest cultural and scientific establishment in Europe.[3] It was the centre of the "second French humanism" in the 15th century and during 1469 the first printing press in France was installed in la Sorbonne by King Louis XI's librarian, Guillaume Fichet. Historically, the importance of la Sorbonne is immeasurable.

The that stands today dates back to 1901 and was built at the request of Jules Ferry, former Minister of Education. The building was architected by Henri-Paul Nénot. The building coalesces the styles of the neo-renaissance with classical and antique styles.[4]This can be seen with the giant arches and neo-classical statues within the Sorbonne. The Sorbonne also has various plaques with the names of all the academies of France engraved on them.

[3] https://www.sorbonne.fr/en/the-sorbonne/history-of-the-sorbonne/la-fondation-de-la-sorbonne-au-moyen-age-par-le-theologien-robert-de-sorbon/. Accessed on November 11, 2017.

[4] Andrew Ayers, The Architecture of Paris: An Architectural Guide, Edition Axel Menges, 2004, 106

The Sorbonne is regarded as the highest of echelons in learning environments by the international committee and is regarded as one of the most prestigious cultural, art and scientific establishments for learning.[5] Since its beginning in the 13^th century the Sorbonne University has maintained its reputation as one of Europe's greatest learning institutions and is still regarded in the same high manner today.

In terms of importance to the 1968 Uprisings within Paris, the Sorbonne University became the central hub of interaction and planning for the student led protests during May. The Sorbonne University had connections of being a valuable educational institution from its indoctrination to the events of May 1968. The Sorbonne was, arguably, the beginning of the events of May 1968 within Paris after the police occupation of it.

The explosion of the uprising occurred when on May third, 1968 police were called by the rector of the university to quell the agitation of the students at the Sorbonne after Nanterre University had been closed by the administration after disputes between staff and students. This is unheard of because police occupation in the Sorbonne and University in general was not a common event in France and the students did not agree with it.[6]

The Sorbonne University students, in response, took over the Latin Quarter on May 10^th, 1968. Then Pompidou reopened the Sorbonne on May eleventh in which the students took over and transformed it into a hub of power for their protests.[7] Surely this can be attributed to a revolutionist undertaking as the University was a government funded institution. The Sorbonne take over and construction of the protest's hub of power spread to factory workers and even high school students which in of itself had baffled policy makers and paralysed the city of Paris.[8] The events of May 1968, in regards, to la Sorbonne University can be regarded as more "revolutionary" than an "uprising" as it did impact the government and the inner workings of the city.

[5]J. Jackson, A. Milne, J. Williams, 5/1/1968: Rethinking France's Last Revolution, Springer, 2011, 122.

[6] Pieter Dhondt, Elizabethanne Boran, Student Revolt, City, and Society in Europe: From the Middle Ages to the Present, Routledge, 2017, 45.

[7] Michael Seidman, The Imaginary Revolution: Parisian Students and Workers in 1968, Berghahn Books, 2004, 252.

[8] Ibid, 47.

Bibliography

Ayers, Andrew. The Architecture of Paris: An Architectural Guide. Edition Axel Menges, 2004.

Dhondt, Pieter & Boran, Elizabethan. Student Revolt, City, and Society in Europe: From the Middle Ages to the Present. Routledge, 2017.

Jackson, J., Milne, A. & Williams, J.5/1/1968: Rethinking France's Last Revolution. Springer, 2011.

Seidman, Michael. The Imaginary Revolution: Parisian Students and Workers in 1968. Berghahn Books, 2004.

Singer, Daneil. Prelude to Revolution: France in May 1968. South End Press, 2002.

https://www.sorbonne.fr/en/the-sorbonne/history-of-the-sorbonne/la-fondation-de-la-…..sorbonne-au-moyen-age-par-le-theologien-robert-de-sorbon/. Accessed on November 11, 2017.