The (), established by

Michelangelo Ricci Michelangelo Ricci (1619–1682) was an Italian mathematician and a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. Biography Michelangelo Ricci was born on 30 January 1619 in Rome, then capital of the Papal States, to a family of low social standing ...

, is the earliest

academic journal An academic journal (or scholarly journal or scientific journal) is a periodical publication in which Scholarly method, scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. They serve as permanent and transparent forums for the ...

published in Italy. It was among the most famous learned journals in continental Europe, together with the ''Journal des sçavans'' (1665–), the ''

Acta Eruditorum (from Latin: ''Acts of the Erudite'') was the first scientific journal of the German-speaking lands of Europe, published from 1682 to 1782. History ''Acta Eruditorum'' was founded in 1682 in Leipzig by Otto Mencke, who became its first edit ...

'' (1682–1782) and

Pierre Bayle Pierre Bayle (; 18 November 1647 – 28 December 1706) was a French philosopher, author, and lexicographer. He is best known for his '' Historical and Critical Dictionary'', whose publication began in 1697. Many of the more controversial ideas ...

’s Amsterdam publication '' Nouvelles de la république des lettres'' (1684–1718).

History

The ''Giornale de' Letterati'' was first published in 1668. Its founder and first editor,

, was in an ideal position to obtain contributions and advice from the likes of

Evangelista Torricelli Evangelista Torricelli ( ; ; 15 October 160825 October 1647) was an Italian people, Italian physicist and mathematician, and a student of Benedetto Castelli. He is best known for his invention of the barometer, but is also known for his advances i ...

and

Vincenzo Viviani Vincenzo Viviani (April 5, 1622 – September 22, 1703) was an Italian mathematician and scientist. He was a pupil of Torricelli and Galileo.Benedetto Castelli Benedetto Castelli (1578 – 9 April 1643), born Antonio Castelli, was an Italians, Italian mathematician. Benedetto was his name in religion on entering the Benedictine Order in 1595. Life Born in Brescia, Castelli studied at the University of ...

. As the author of a mathematical treatise that earned a reprint by the

Royal Society The Royal Society, formally The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. The society fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, re ...

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, he could competently judge the scientific material that came in. The Roman ''Giornale'''s next editor, Francesco Nazzari, was an expert in

natural philosophy Natural philosophy or philosophy of nature (from Latin ''philosophia naturalis'') is the philosophical study of physics, that is, nature and the physical universe, while ignoring any supernatural influence. It was dominant before the develop ...

, which he taught at the

Sapienza University of Rome The Sapienza University of Rome (), formally the Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza", abbreviated simply as Sapienza ('Wisdom'), is a Public university, public research university located in Rome, Italy. It was founded in 1303 and is ...

; and his directorship of the polyglot press of the Congregation de propaganda fide familiarized him with the workings of the publishing industry. The journal's third and final editor, Giovanni Ciampini, author, patron and

antiquary An antiquarian or antiquary () is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient artefacts, archaeological and historic sit ...

, enjoyed a far more prestigious circle of acquaintances than any of his co-editors, as the founding member of the academy of ecclesiastical history in the same Congregation. Under the guidance of these editors, the Roman journal attracted contributions from as far afield as

Robert Hooke Robert Hooke (; 18 July 16353 March 1703) was an English polymath who was active as a physicist ("natural philosopher"), astronomer, geologist, meteorologist, and architect. He is credited as one of the first scientists to investigate living ...

in England, and it combined them with book reviews, bibliographical news, and obituaries. And for a time, it seemed likely to rival the Paris ''

Journal des sçavans The (later renamed and then , ), established by Denis de Sallo, is the earliest academic journal published in Europe. It is thought to be the earliest published scientific journal. It currently focuses on European history and premodern literatu ...

'', whose format it closely imitated.

Notes

Bibliography

* * * * * {{Authority control Academic journals established in 1668 1668 establishments in Europe Defunct journals Multidisciplinary academic journals Italian-language journals Publications disestablished in 1679 1679 disestablishments in Europe