The Classical University is a type of cultural building in Napoleon: Total War.
Description[]
This is a bastion of learning and academic thought, where the arts, theology and sciences are carefully taught.
A university offers young men from good families a fine education, and the chance to study the greatest achievements of mankind. As a result there is a chance that, each turn, this university may produce a gentleman, a useful agent for his nation. The faculty also aids research into new technologies, but may produce a wish for reform among the people; even though the university is socially conservative, it cannot keep all progressive thoughts away from its students.
A good education was useful for those who wished to make their way in the world using talent as well as family connections. A young gentleman's studies were wide ranging, and not tied to any particular subject area: an awarded degree or doctorate was proof enough of some intellectual achievement. Historically, the established church in many countries had established the universities, and continued to run them. This meant that the university as a body rarely challenged the established order of things; the teachers and students both had vested interests in the status quo. While wild, threatening ideas about the world and the way it should work did emerge, the universities were rarely radical or revolutionary breeding grounds.
General Information[]
Unlike their successors, Modern Universities, Classical Universities are immediately available as an upgrade over the college that all the playable factions start with in the Europe campaign. However, they are very costly for early game buildings and provide no direct, immediate economic benefit. The price is nonetheless well worth it in the long run, as Classical Universities conduct research twice as quickly as colleges, benefit colleges faction-wide, and spawn more gentlemen.
The Peninsular Campaign[]
In The Peninsular Campaign, classical universities require 1,500 gold and 4 turns to build. They spread Pro-French Sentiment in addition to speeding up research times.