It was identified as significant for its interests in natural philosophy by Lynn Thorndike, in a chapter "The Circle of Melanchthon" in his multi-volume History of Magic and Experimental Science.
[3] In lecturing on the Librorum de judiciis astrologicis of Ptolemy in 1535–36, Melanchthon expressed to students his interest in Greek mathematics, astronomy and astrology.
[6] In the period 1536–9 he was involved in three academic innovations: the refoundation of Wittenberg along Protestant lines, the reorganisation at Tübingen, and the foundation of the University of Leipzig.
The network included Simon Grynaeus who remained at Tübingen; Melanchthon dedicated to him his 1531 edition of the De sphaera mundi.
[14] Stifelius (Michael Stiefel) had a preface for his 1543 arithmetic book; he had predicted the end of the world in 1533, had lost his living as minister in consequence, and had been found another by Melanchthon.