Doctorate in Philosophy Awarded to a Woman for the First Time (1678)

Born to a noble Venetian family, Elena Cornaro Piscopia became the first woman to be awarded a doctorate in philosophy. A child prodigy, Piscopia went on to complete a brilliant course of study at the University of Padua. During her graduation ceremony, she spoke in classical Latin for an hour, explaining passages from Aristotle. She spent the next several years devoted to study and charity before dying of tuberculosis at age 38. How many languages did she master before receiving her doctorate? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

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