János Apáczai Csere
Encyclopedia
János Apáczai Csere was a Transylvania
n Hungarian polyglot
and mathematician
, famous for his work The Hungarian Encyclopedia, the first textbook to be written in Hungarian
. The Encyclopædia Britannica calls him "the leading Protestant scholar and writer" of 17th-century Hungary.
He was born in Apaţa
(today in Braşov County
, Romania
) on June 10, 1625; the "Apáczai" in his name is an indication of his birthplace. The Csere family into which he was born were of the minor nobility, but his parents died when he was young and he was brought up an orphan. After college studies in Gyulafehérvár
, one of Csere's teachers there, Johann Heinrich Bisterfeld
, persuaded the local bishop, István Katona, to fund a scholarship for Apáczai to continue his education in The Netherlands. He began these studies at the University of Franeker
and later went to Leiden University
and Utrecht University
; in 1651 he earned a doctorate in theology from the University of Harderwijk
. He married a Dutch woman, Aletta van der Maet, in the same year, but returned with her to Gyulafehérvár in 1652 at the request of Prince George II Rákóczi
. At this time, Bisterfeld was still head of the school in Gyulafehérvár, but on his death in 1655 Apáczai fell out of favor and lost his position; in 1656 he was sent instead to what is now Cluj-Napoca
to become head of the Kolozsvár School there. He died in 1659 at the age of 34.
Apáczai wrote his encyclopedia while he was in Utrecht
, and it was in Utrecht that it was published, in 1653 or 1655, after he had returned to Transylvania. The first part of the encyclopedia consisted of a translation of the philosophy of Descartes, and the second and third covered logic
following the earlier treatments of Petrus Ramus
and his student Amesius. The fourth part concerned arithmetic
, and the fifth part geometry
, again based on the work of Ramus. The sixth part covered astronomy
, and was notable for including controversial heliocentric theories of cosmology
. The remaining parts of the encyclopedia concerned natural history
, technology, history, social institutions, and theology. Apáczai's work fell into disfavor and neglect in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, after the Hungarian Counter-Reformation
led to a return of Catholicism in that country. However, in 1803, a second edition was published, and it was republished again as recently as 1977 by Kriterion. Due to this work, Apáczai is now considered a national cultural hero.
The Apáczai Csere János High School in Budapest
, one of the most reputed high schools in Hungary, is named after Apáczai, as are the Apáczai Csere János High School in Cluj, the Apáczai Csere János Teacher-Training College
in Győr
, and Apáczai Csere János utca (a street in Budapest). In 1998, the Hungarian government
established the Apáczai Public Foundation for the education of Hungarians living in other countries.
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
n Hungarian polyglot
Polyglot (person)
A polyglot is someone with a high degree of proficiency in several languages. A bilingual person can speak two languages fluently, whereas a trilingual three; above that the term multilingual may be used.-Hyperpolyglot:...
and mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
, famous for his work The Hungarian Encyclopedia, the first textbook to be written in Hungarian
Hungarian language
Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
. The Encyclopædia Britannica calls him "the leading Protestant scholar and writer" of 17th-century Hungary.
He was born in Apaţa
Apata
Apaţa is a commune in Braşov County, Romania. It is composed of a single village, Apaţa.At the 2002 census, 54.3% of inhabitants were Romanians, 40.7% Hungarians and 4.9% Roma. 37.8% were Evangelical Lutheran, 36.4% Pentecostal, 20.1% Romanian Orthodox and 2.4% had no religion.-Natives:*János...
(today in Braşov County
Brasov County
Brașov ; ) is a county of Romania, in Transylvania, with the capital city at Brașov. The county incorporates within its boundaries most of the Medieval "lands" Burzenland and Făgăraș Land.-Demographics:...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
) on June 10, 1625; the "Apáczai" in his name is an indication of his birthplace. The Csere family into which he was born were of the minor nobility, but his parents died when he was young and he was brought up an orphan. After college studies in Gyulafehérvár
Alba Iulia
Alba Iulia is a city in Alba County, Transylvania, Romania with a population of 66,747, located on the Mureş River. Since the High Middle Ages, the city has been the seat of Transylvania's Roman Catholic diocese. Between 1541 and 1690 it was the capital of the Principality of Transylvania...
, one of Csere's teachers there, Johann Heinrich Bisterfeld
Johann Heinrich Bisterfeld
Johann Heinrich Bisterfeld was a German philosopher, logician and encyclopedic writer from Siegen. A follower of Ramus and pupil of Johann Heinrich Alsted at the Herborn Academy , Bisterfeld became head of the academy in Weissenburg in Transylvania, where he died.The Bisterfeldius redivivus...
, persuaded the local bishop, István Katona, to fund a scholarship for Apáczai to continue his education in The Netherlands. He began these studies at the University of Franeker
University of Franeker
The University of Franeker was a university in Franeker, Friesland, presently part of the Netherlands. It was the second oldest university of the Netherlands, founded shortly after Leiden University....
and later went to Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
and Utrecht University
Utrecht University
Utrecht University is a university in Utrecht, Netherlands. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands and one of the largest in Europe. Established March 26, 1636, it had an enrollment of 29,082 students in 2008, and employed 8,614 faculty and staff, 570 of which are full professors....
; in 1651 he earned a doctorate in theology from the University of Harderwijk
University of Harderwijk
The University of Harderwijk , also named the Guelders Academy , was located in the town of Harderwijk, in the Republic of the United Provinces...
. He married a Dutch woman, Aletta van der Maet, in the same year, but returned with her to Gyulafehérvár in 1652 at the request of Prince George II Rákóczi
George II Rákóczi
György Rákóczi II , a Transylvanian Hungarian ruler, was the eldest son of George I and Susanna Lorantffy....
. At this time, Bisterfeld was still head of the school in Gyulafehérvár, but on his death in 1655 Apáczai fell out of favor and lost his position; in 1656 he was sent instead to what is now Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
to become head of the Kolozsvár School there. He died in 1659 at the age of 34.
Apáczai wrote his encyclopedia while he was in Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
, and it was in Utrecht that it was published, in 1653 or 1655, after he had returned to Transylvania. The first part of the encyclopedia consisted of a translation of the philosophy of Descartes, and the second and third covered logic
Logic
In philosophy, Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning. Logic is used in most intellectual activities, but is studied primarily in the disciplines of philosophy, mathematics, semantics, and computer science...
following the earlier treatments of Petrus Ramus
Petrus Ramus
Petrus Ramus was an influential French humanist, logician, and educational reformer. A Protestant convert, he was killed during the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre.-Early life:...
and his student Amesius. The fourth part concerned arithmetic
Arithmetic
Arithmetic or arithmetics is the oldest and most elementary branch of mathematics, used by almost everyone, for tasks ranging from simple day-to-day counting to advanced science and business calculations. It involves the study of quantity, especially as the result of combining numbers...
, and the fifth part geometry
Geometry
Geometry arose as the field of knowledge dealing with spatial relationships. Geometry was one of the two fields of pre-modern mathematics, the other being the study of numbers ....
, again based on the work of Ramus. The sixth part covered astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
, and was notable for including controversial heliocentric theories of cosmology
Cosmology
Cosmology is the discipline that deals with the nature of the Universe as a whole. Cosmologists seek to understand the origin, evolution, structure, and ultimate fate of the Universe at large, as well as the natural laws that keep it in order...
. The remaining parts of the encyclopedia concerned natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
, technology, history, social institutions, and theology. Apáczai's work fell into disfavor and neglect in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, after the Hungarian Counter-Reformation
Counter-Reformation
The Counter-Reformation was the period of Catholic revival beginning with the Council of Trent and ending at the close of the Thirty Years' War, 1648 as a response to the Protestant Reformation.The Counter-Reformation was a comprehensive effort, composed of four major elements:#Ecclesiastical or...
led to a return of Catholicism in that country. However, in 1803, a second edition was published, and it was republished again as recently as 1977 by Kriterion. Due to this work, Apáczai is now considered a national cultural hero.
The Apáczai Csere János High School in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, one of the most reputed high schools in Hungary, is named after Apáczai, as are the Apáczai Csere János High School in Cluj, the Apáczai Csere János Teacher-Training College
University of West Hungary
The main campus of the University of West Hungary is located in Sopron.-Colleges:* College of Apáczai Csere János Teacher Training College in Győr* College of Benedek Elek College of Pedagogy in Sopron* College of Forestry in Sopron...
in Győr
Gyor
-Climate:-Main sights:The ancient core of the city is Káptalan Hill at the confluence of three rivers: the Danube, Rába and Rábca. Püspökvár, the residence of Győr’s bishops can be easily recognised by its incomplete tower. Győr’s oldest buildings are the 13th-century dwelling tower and the...
, and Apáczai Csere János utca (a street in Budapest). In 1998, the Hungarian government
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
established the Apáczai Public Foundation for the education of Hungarians living in other countries.