World History   

This course looks primarily at the foreign relations of the U.S. and examines the rise of the U.S. from an isolated economic power to one of the world’s great powers. The Spanish-American War began the process and it culminated with the U.S. involvement in World War I.

Midway, Stalingrad, North Africa and Kursk were all critical turning points of World War II. Although there would be much work still to be done, the invasions of June, 1944 were truly the beginning of the end in both theaters. These invasions coming just days apart but separated by thousands of miles offer abundant evidence of the unbelievable accomplishments of the U.S. on the production and military fronts.

The islands of the Azores began with volcanoes. Their power to destroy and their power to create. Was Plato right in claiming that the lost City of Atlantis was in the Azores? Take a visual tour of all 9 islands and discover the history, culture, and the traditions of the islands in the middle of nowhere.

The Pacific War encompassed thousands of miles of ocean and interspersed islands on which occurred some of the bloodiest battles in American military history. The United States was thrust into the war, and by the conclusion of that war, the U.S. was a world superpower with a matching naval armada. Learn the course of the Pacific War from Pearl Harbor to Okinawa and the campaigns, decisions, strategies and tactics that led U.S. forces to the front door of the island nation of Japan.

All of us have heard of the Rosetta Stone, if only from all the TV ads. We are not alone, for it is the most popular exhibit in the British Museum. Most of us also know that it was the key to unlocking the secrets of Egyptian hieroglyphics, which in turn unlocked the history of ancient Egypt. This potential was realized at the time of its discovery in 1799, but it still took a quarter of a century and the intense effort on the part of two special geniuses, Thomas Young and Jean-Francois Champollion. The purpose of this course is to tell the fascinating story of these geniuses and how they used the Stone to read hieroglyphics, which had last been read two thousand years earlier.

The history, traditions, music and mayhem of Mardi Gras from Ancient Rome's naughty carnivals to present day Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday). Discover the evolution of Mardi Gras from hedonistic feast to religious ritual to the wild celebrations in New Orleans.

Two ancient languages were deciphered in the last half of the twentieth century.  The first was Linear B, which was first found in 1900 on clay tablets during the excavation of the magnificent palace of King Minos at Knossos on the island of Crete.  It resisted all the efforts of experts until it yielded its surprising answer in 1953 to a flash of genius by a British architect, Michael Ventris.  The second is the decipherment of the inscriptions written with the intricate, ornate Mayan glyphs, which were found in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico and in Guatemala.  In contrast to Linear B, it yielded gradually to the decades long cumulative effort of many scholars, and its decipherment completely changed our understanding of the Mayan civilization.  This class tells these two very different, but equally interesting, stories of decipherment.

In recognition for the anniversary of his assassination, this talk will highlight the life and lasting legacy of the great Gaius Julius Caesar. As a personality, political actor and military genius, he left an indelible mark on western civilization and proves of lasting influence across the world today. Join us for a fun and fascinating look at the man and the legend which is his lasting legacy.

The attack on Pearl Harbor- what precipitated the villainous Japanese attack on America's Pacific Naval Base at Pearl Harbor? Why did the Japanese want to go to war with us? We will discuss the physical attack and penetrate the reasons that even though it was an immediate success for Japan, it was really the early beginning of the end of the Japanese empire.

Malta, island country located in the central Mediterranean Sea. A strategically important group of islands. The archipelago has through its long and turbulent history played a vital role in the struggles of a succession of powers. Learn about this jewel from a Maltese citizen who will go into the history, culture, travel opportunities and many other facets of the island.

In this course, we will take a trip through some of the greatest archaeological sites in the world to discover the rich history of ancient Meso-America. Spanning regions from Mexico to Honduras, we will investigate the cultures of such civilizations as the Olmecs, Maya and Aztecs.

Today is the 95th anniversary of the first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Millions around the world know of this feat and the man who accomplished it, Charles Lindbergh. What many are not aware of is the stain he placed on his name by his flirtation with Hitler, antisemitism, and Nazi Germany. We will explore in-depth the entire picture of this famous historical figure, both his accomplishments which earned him praise of many and the condemnation he received from many, including a rebuke from the President of the United States.

Discover the history, legends and cultures of the Emerald Isle from when the first settlers rowed their tiny, skin boats across wild seas from England. Centuries of Druid, Celt, and Viking settlements have left Ireland with a rich and permanent collection of myths and legends. Learn the true stories behind the legends of leprechauns, fairies, changelings, pookas, banshees, and the Blarney Stone.

The discovery and charting the boundaries of the huge Pacific Ocean is filled with true stories of good and evil men, shipwrecks, heroism, murder, and even cannibals. Come hear how these stories helped shape history.