Cities and religious orders in colonial Latin America competed vigorously and often bitterly to acquire a university, but little is understood of the cultural impact of the university on cities, regions, or the colonial system. The university in the Spanish colonies derived its organization and traditions from the University of Salamanca, a cathedral school, and the medieval universities of Europe. Royal grants and papal bulls were necessary for official establishment under Spanish law, and both the University of Mexico and the University of San Marcos in Lima claim to have been the first university in the American continent. Issues of autonomy and religious ties emphasize the importance of the university in colonial society, and some disagreement exists among historians about the strength of the ties. Social control and reinforcement of class values are seen as the ultimate purposes of the colonial institutions, but several theories exist about the sources and force of the influence. It is concluded that the colonial university served the dual purposes of educating the Creole aristocracy while preserving religious and political orthodoxy in the colonies. Various theories exist about the institutions' educational philosophies and intellectual life. Archival historical materials are plentiful; scholarly interpretation of them is recommended for more complete understanding of the cultural impact of the colonial universities. (MSE)