Abstract

The Spanish Empire and the Catholic Church prevented the spread of functional ideas for the common good. The Neapolitan Academies of the Sereni, the Incogniti and the Ardenti were immediately closed (1546-1547), because their members opposed the Spanish rule and supported a civil and political consciousness. In 1610 the Academia of Oziosi served as a propaganda tool of the monarchy. Only after the so-called revolt of Masaniello, a group of novatores – scientists formed on the works of Telesius, Galilei and Descartes – could act in academies with a new approach, like the Colonna and Investiganti ones. Spain closed them, while France and England understood the national usefulness of the Academies.