Nostradamus :: essays research papers

NostradamusMichel De Nostradame, otherwise known as Nostradamus was born December14, 1503. His family was of Jewish ancestry. His grandfather, capital of South Dakota deNostradame, had settled in Provence because by the mid-1400s, many Jews hadcome to live there.Nostradamus father was Jacques de Nostradame. Jacques worked as ascholary, since most people didnt know how to write he wrote things for them,from spot letters to formal documents. Jacques income provided a good home atthe time. Nostradamus earliest recollection of his home was the followingTypical of all provenal homes in the sixteenth century was the roomwhere both domestic and social life was carried on. The center andsymbol of the rooms activity was the great fireplace, majestic, caver-nous, holding a banked fire that neer went out since his mother andfather moved in. Shining pots and pans of brass hung low from themantle shelf. At either angle of the fireplace was an oak settle werehis grandfathers care to laze and t alk when they came to visit. On thewalls hung light cabinet shelves holding salt and spices.Nostradamus had one definite brother, Csar who wrote Histoire deProvence, a book which sustains the myth of the Nostradamus royal line.Historians mobilize Nostradamus had three other brothers, Bertrand, Hector, andAntoine, but they are not sure and almost nothing is known about them besidestheir names.Nostradamus was educated by his grandfathers. First Peyrot, who hadbeen a great traveler, brought Nostradamus up in his home. He taughtNostradamus the basics of mathematics, Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and Astrology.After Peyrot de Nostradamus death Nostradamus moved back in with his parents,Jacques and Reynire. It is thought that his other grandfather took over his educational activity for a while, but the family decided to send Nostradamus to Avignon,which at that period was the center of Renaissance learning. At Avignon,Nostradamus spent many hours at University libraries.Nostradamus biggest inter est was astrology. His interest in astrologybegan to worry his parents, and by the advice of his grandfather he was sent tothe University of Montpellier to study medicine. The University of Montpellierwas regarded as second only to that of Paris in all of France.Nostradamus arrived there in 1522 at nineteen years of age. In three years hestudied all the subjects needed for his bachelors degree. He was tutored bysome of the finest doctors in Europe. The process of getting a degree was farmore arduous than in the present day, and lasted much longer. A successfulcandidate was given his license to exert by the bishop of Montpellier.