Hearing the stories of our past, spanning thousands of years, makes for one of the most thrilling and rewarding learning experiences the curious mind can have. This series of history courses survey dramatic adventures—and how they have shaped our lives—in a way that’s comprehensive and unforgettable.
Explore the foundations of history through three selections which provide a broad, panoramic learning experience that will help you pull an enormous sweep of history together into a coherent framework.
- The Foundations of Western Civilization
In this sweeping course, you get the classic grand tour of ancient Western civilization. - Foundations of Western Civilization II: A History of the Modern Western World
Expand your understanding into the depth and breadth of an unprecedented period in world history. - Foundations of Eastern Civilization
Uncover the fascinating origins of East Asian civilization in this comprehensive course that explores the history of China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia.
Examine key battles, social upheaval, significant figures, and lasting influences as you select three courses that feature significant turning points in American history.
- A History of the United States, 2nd Edition
Comprehend the entire history of The United States of America in this all-encompassing course taught by three brilliant professors. - America's Founding Fathers
Historian and Professor Allen C. Guelzo reveals how America’s Founding Fathers played their own unique roles in shaping the grand story of the U.S. Constitution. - Native Peoples of North America
Join the Smithsonian and an award-winning professor to recount an epic story of resistance and accommodation, persistence and adaption, and extraordinary hardship and survival. - Mr. Lincoln: The Life of Abraham Lincoln
A tour of Lincoln's life, from his forebears' arrival in America through an evaluation of how his legacy lives on for us today. - The American Civil War
Discover the real reasons behind the Civil War and get a blow-by-blow description of what happened in each major battle. - America in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era
Witness the transformation of the United States from a war-torn nation to a global leader in this fascinating overview of six decades. - The U.S. and the Middle East: 1914 to 9/11
Gain perspective and understanding on a troubled region with this course that provides a narrative history and analysis of U.S. political involvement in the Middle East. - American Military History: From Colonials to Counterinsurgents
Professor Wesley Clark, a retired four-star general, guides you through three centuries of America’s wars.
Consider the global impact that Europe has had on cultures and civilizations throughout time as you pick three courses representing a range of perspectives, locations, and centuries.
- World War II: A Military and Social History
Engross yourself in a comprehensive overview of the single largest event in history. - A History of England from the Tudors to the Stuarts
Learn how England transformed itself from a medieval backwater into the first modern state in this sweeping course on one of the most interesting periods in history. - The Early Middle Ages
Shed light on the Dark Ages with this absorbing course that relates the often surprising true story of how Rome ended and Western civilization began. - The High Middle Ages
Better understand the fascinating world of medieval Europe with this engaging course that explores the years 1000-1300. - The Vikings
Discover the tremendous impact Vikings had on the history and culture of Western civilization in this engrossing course by an award-winning professor of History. - The Decisive Battles of World History
Examine the military encounters that most profoundly affected history in this sweeping course that spans from chariot battles in ancient Egypt to modern conflicts. - A History of Eastern Europe
Experience the astounding history of one of the world's most fascinating places, in this course that explains the complicated context of Eastern Europe. - The Irish Identity: Independence, History, and Literature
Guided by great works from Yeats, Joyce, Lady Gregory, and others, discover the dazzling world of the Irish Renaissance—led by an award-winning professor. - Living the French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon
Examine a crucial turning point for humanity—the French Revolution and its aftermath—in which common people threw off the shackles of oppression and seized freedom. - The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World
Discover the breadth and depth of human history from the perspective of the so-called ordinary people, from its earliest beginnings through the Middle Ages. - The History of Spain: Land on a Crossroad
Join a seasoned expert on Spain and witness the dazzling history of the Spanish culture and its unique role in the West. - The Mysterious Etruscans
Gain new insight into the foundations of Western civilization and discover how the Etruscans were a critical cultural conduit to our modern era.
Embark on a well-rounded, 360-degree look at history from all perspectives as you select three courses that travel through other cultures and civilizations.
- Cities of the Ancient World
From Uruk and Jericho to Athens and Rome, explore ancient urban landscapes and draw connections between the cities of centuries past and those of our modern world. - History of the Ancient World: A Global Perspective
Look at world history through the lens of religion, philosophy, the visual arts, literature, and more—led by a brilliant lecturer/scholar. - History of Ancient Egypt
Chronologically survey the full 3,000 years of recorded ancient Egyptian history led by an Egyptologist and Senior Research Fellow at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University. - Understanding Imperial China: Dynasties, Life, and Culture
Take an inside look at life in China’s splendorous empire, through the eyes of poets, courtiers, emperors, scholars, travelers, and courtesans. - The Ottoman Empire
From magnificent rise to tragic collapse to stunning rebirth, explore the grand story of the Ottoman Empire in these 36 lectures delivered by a master classical historian. - The History and Achievements of the Islamic Golden Age
Learn about the many scientific and cultural achievements of one of the most important periods in all of world history, led by an acclaimed lecturer. - Turning Points in Middle Eastern History
Go beyond the headlines to reveal the true Middle East. Gain surprising insights about the world today based on this dramatic history led by a professor, US Consultant, and explorer. - Decoding the Secrets of Egyptian Hieroglyphs
Decipher the language of ancient Egypt and learn what hieroglyphs can tell us about history, accompanied by an acclaimed Egyptologist. - A History of India
An award winning professor takes you on a breathtaking survey of South Asia from its earliest societies to the modern challenges. - The Holy Land Revealed
Visit the birthplace of Judaism and Christianity in this comprehensive tour, taught by an archaeologist, that will take you deep beneath the pages of the Bible. - Lost Worlds of South America
Trek through the lost worlds of South America and discover exotic civilizations in this course on the culture, architecture, and history of these ancient peoples. - The Barbarian Empires of the Steppes
Travel in time to an often overlooked area of history and learn the astonishing ways that cultures thought of as barbaric have profoundly influenced our world today. - Maya to Aztec: Ancient Mesoamerica Revealed
Uncover the fascinating rise and fall of the Maya and Aztec civilizations in this comprehensive course taught by the Director of the Maya Exploration Center.
