Source of this image: Michael Olmert, Smithsonian Book of Books (Smithsonian
Institution, 1992). The miniature is shows Henry of Germany delivering a lecture at
the University of Bologna and is Miniature 1233, in MS Kupferstichkabinett SMPK,
Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Berlin.
As you can see from this image, some things never change! Here
is a lecture being given in 14th-century Italy, at the University of Bologna, one
of the oldest in Europe. Although there is no blackboard (or computer or VCR,
for that matter!), there is very little that is different from a lecture hall in the 20th century:
some students have books, others don't; some students are paying attention while others
are chatting together or taking a short nap.
By the way, this is not behavior that I expect will be imitated in our 20th century
classroom...! We can find images as well of students being physically punished
by their Master, a tradition that has, fortunately, lost favor with educators in the 20th
century. . . .
(Go to the Views of Education pages to see the image of that poor flogged student!