History   

We will trace the Crusades from their contemporary world to their enduring legacies. We will examine pressures facing Byzantium, the Islamic Golden Age, feudal rivalries of medieval Europe and the religious, political and economic forces behind the First Crusade and the fall of Jerusalem in 1099. We will follow the Muslim resurgence under Saladin, his rivalry with Richard the Lionheart and the decline and fall of the Crusader movement in 1291. We will end with legacies of cultural exchange, military orders and lasting tensions.

Today, most Americans remember presidents who served in times of war or during our lives. While we may forget others, their times may have been equally tumultuous; this was particularly true of the decades following the Civil War. We will explore presidents from Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885) to Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933) and how the crises of their times—Reconstruction, spoils politics, the gold/silver vs. greenback debate, assassinations and the emergence of the U.S. onto the world stage—can provide insights on today’s United States.

We will explore the history, construction and evolution of the Great Wall of China. We will consider the 11 dynasties that built and defended the wall as well as its impact on Chinese political, military, economic and social history. We will also cover the relationship between the Great Wall and the Silk Road. Note: Participants may choose to attend each week either in-person or online.

We will survey antisemitism through ancient literature, Christian scripture, early Church fathers, councils, Crusades, Reformation leaders and movements, and pogroms from 1000 CE through the Shoah (Holocaust). Class time will include lecture and discussion. Prerequisites: Participants should have a desire to make the world a better place for everyone. Note: There are both an in-person and an online option for this course. Participants must choose only one option to attend; please ensure that you are registering for the option you prefer, as we may not be able to accommodate changes.

We will survey antisemitism through ancient literature, Christian scripture, early Church fathers, councils, Crusades, Reformation leaders and movements, and pogroms from 1000 CE through the Shoah (Holocaust). Class time will include lecture and discussion. Prerequisites: Participants should have a desire to make the world a better place for everyone. Note: There are both an in-person and an online option for this course. Participants must choose only one option to attend; please ensure that you are registering for the option you prefer, as we may not be able to accommodate changes.

More than 90 years later, the kidnapping of baby Charles Augustus Lindbergh, Jr. (1930-1932) remains a source of mystery and controversy. What really happened? Was his convicted killer Bruno Hauptmann really guilty? We will cover the crime itself, the investigation and trial, and some alternative theories.

We will learn about the Mong, Hmong and Lao people who immigrated to the U.S. as political refugees from Laos. We will discuss their history, cultures, traditions, religions, languages and education along with their involvement in the Secret War (1959-1975), which was a major component of the Vietnam conflict.

New York City has always been a magnet for innovation, culture, immigration and politics, and its evolution has led and often affected the evolution of the U.S. New York City has been the laboratory and testing ground for many economic, cultural and industrial ideas that we take for granted today. Many of those experiments succeeded, while others in retrospect provide us with warnings for our own lives. We will trace that evolution from the beginnings of civilization in the area to the modern city in the late 20th century.

Misinformation campaigns, advancements in technology and so-called ghost armies have changed the way warfare is conducted. We will focus on the use of propaganda in wars from ancient history into the modern era, with special emphasis on operations during World War II that became the training ground for military deception. Note: Participants may choose to attend each week either in-person or online.

Americans are enthralled with cross-country excursions, so much so that the transcontinental journey has become a common framework for travel writing. Early explorers, literary figures, adventurers and journalists alike have composed accounts of the social, cultural and political geographies they have experienced. From Lewis and Clark to John Muir and William Least Heat Moon, we will explore the varied observations of U.S. travels in prose. Note: Suggested readings will be emailed to participants by the instructor.

Wine is one of the oldest foods and first documented medicines made by humans. Where and when did it begin? How has wine changed over the millennia? We will discuss grape-growing and winemaking over the course of 8000 years, including today’s methodologies and technologies that changed viticulture (grape-growing) and viniculture (winemaking).

For many of us, baseball was the most popular spectator sport when we were young. Major League Baseball is now enjoying a renaissance with growing attendance and viewership over the past three seasons. We will start with a brief review of every World Series in the championship’s first 100 years and look at some of its top teams, players and managers. We will also track the 2026 World Series that will start on October 23.