The transmission of knowledge lies at the heart of civilization. In the ancient world, science drew life from two sources. Master artisans honed their practical wisdom and passed it on from one generation to the next. Elsewhere, philosophers, sages, and divines engaged in debate and lent increasingly complex form to human thought. These two traditions--technique and theory--have served ever since as the vessels of knowledge and of human experience itself. The University, written in a concise, readable style by distinguished scholars drawn from a wide range of disciplines, brings us the events, the people, the cities, and the institutions that gave shape to this vast and absorbing story. The closing section opens our eyes to fascinating prospects, and makes a robust contribution to the discussion on the challenges and uncertainties faced by universities today.