The original Latin word "universitas" refers in general to "a number of persons associated into one body, a society, company, community, guild, corporation, etc." At the time of the emergence of urban town life and medieval guilds, specialised "associations of students and teachers with collective legal rights usually guaranteed by charters issued by princes, prelates, or the towns in which they were located" came to be denominated by this general term. Like other guilds, they were self-regulating and determined the qualifications of their members. 

An important idea in the definition of a university is the notion of academic freedom. The first documentary evidence of this comes from early in the life of the first university. The University of Bologna adopted an academic charter, the Constitutio Habita, in 1158 or 1155, which guaranteed the right of a traveling scholar to unhindered passage in the interests of education. Today this is claimed as the origin of "academic freedom". This is now widely recognised internationally - on 18 September 1988, 430 university rectors signed the Magna Charta Universitatum, marking the 900th anniversary of Bologna's foundation. The number of universities signing the Magna Charta Universitatum continues to grow, drawing from all parts of the world.
What was the first university?
What did it put in place?
What was that?
When?
What is the basis of the word university?
What language?
What word?
When did these start to form?
Were they different from other groups?
How were they similar?
Did they have any rights together?
Why?
And who else?
What made them unique?
What else defined them?
Is the idea of academic freedom recognized today?
How was it recognized?
When?
By how many schools?
Why was that date chosen?
The University of Bologna
the first university. The University of Bologna
the Constitutio Habita
University of Bologna adopted an academic charter, the Constitutio Habita
it guaranteed a traveling scholar unhindered passage in the interests of education
the Constitutio Habita, in 1158 or 1155, which guaranteed the right of a traveling scholar to unhindered passage in the interests of education
in 1158 or 1155
in 1158 or 1155
a number of persons associated into one body
 "universitas" refers in general to "a number of persons associated into one body, a society, company, community, guild, corporation, etc."
Latin
The original Latin word "universitas"
universitas
The original Latin word "universitas"
when urban town life emerged
At the time of the emergence of urban town life
no
 Like other guilds, they were self-regulating
they were self-regulating and determined the qualifications of their members
 they were self-regulating and determined the qualifications of their members
yes
with collective legal rights
they were guaranteed by charters issued by princes
usually guaranteed by charters issued by princes
prelates
usually guaranteed by charters issued by princes, prelates
the notion of academic freedom
An important idea in the definition of a university is the notion of academic freedom
yes
 Like other guilds, they were self-regulating and determined the qualifications of their members
yes
Today this is claimed as the origin of "academic freedom"
with the Magna Charta Universitatum
on 18 September 1988, 430 university rectors signed the Magna Charta Universitatum
on 18 September 1988
on 18 September 1988
430
430 university rectors signed the Magna Charta Universitatum
it was 900th anniversary of the University of Bologna's foundation
marking the 900th anniversary of Bologna's foundation