In what era and culture did it first become normal to begin an academic year in the fall/late summer? What was the reasoning behind structuring the academic year this way?

by SWFK

Mountebank

This isn't universal even today. In Japan, for example, the academic year starts in April.

tim_mcdaniel

Is it related to the English law year starting in late fall? The Judicature Act 1875 seems to have the law year starting with Michaelmas Term in November, and a couple of pages later the Long Vacation is roughly August through October -- but I've found another Nth-level source giving Hilary (January) first.