Short answers, pulled from the story.
The University of Cambridge was founded in the year 1209 when scholars fled Oxford to escape the wrath of angry townspeople after a local woman was killed and three scholars were hanged. These scholars sought refuge in the market town of Cambridge to avoid further violence and conflict between the university and King John.
Hugh de Balsham, the Bishop of Ely, founded the first college at the University of Cambridge named Peterhouse in the year 1284. This college was established as a self-governing endowment for scholars to pray for the souls of their benefactors.
Women were not admitted to the Bachelor of Arts degree program at the University of Cambridge until 1948 despite being allowed to take university exams from the late 19th century. Girton College founded by Emily Davies in 1869 and Newnham College established by Anne Clough and Henry Sidgwick in 1872 were the pioneering institutions that challenged the gendered status quo.
The Mathematical Tripos was an examination system that was once compulsory for all Bachelor of Arts students and produced legendary figures such as James Clerk Maxwell and Isaac Newton. The tradition of the wooden spoon awarded to the student with the lowest passing grade was discontinued in 1909 marking the end of an era where the bottom of the class was as celebrated as the top.
The University of Cambridge has produced 126 Nobel laureates among its alumni faculty and researchers making it one of the most successful institutions in the history of science and literature. Notable alumni include Charles Darwin whose geological specimens and zoological collections are housed in the university's museums and Isaac Newton whose work in mathematical physics laid the foundations for modern science.
In 2023 researchers were accused of helping to develop weapon systems for Iran leading to a suspension of a 400 million pound collaboration with the United Arab Emirates following allegations of illegal hacking using Pegasus software. The university has also been criticized for its handling of sexual harassment complaints with former students suing the institution for its failure to protect them and for allegedly threatening their academic standing.