"Readings in the History of Education: Mediaeval Universities" by Arthur O. Norton is a historical account written in the early 20th century. This work focuses on the development and significance of mediaeval universities in the context of education, illustrating the influences and changes that shaped modern educational practices. Through a selection of primary source documents, it sheds light on the dynamic nature of academic life during the Middle Ages. At the start of the book, the author introduces the necessity of using original documents to provide a vivid representation of the educational landscape of the past. He emphasizes that understanding the intricacies of university life during the mediaeval period requires a connection to firsthand accounts and records. Norton outlines his intention to explore the rise of universities and their educational frameworks, beginning with the twelfth-century Renaissance, which ignited enthusiasm for learning and led to the establishment of structured academic institutions that have significantly influenced higher education as we know it today. (This is an automatically generated summary.)