> OLLI Courses By Topic > History, Classics, & Philosophy

History, Classics, & Philosophy

"They Died with Their Boots On": Custer, the Battle of the Little Bighorn, and Hollywood
Military history is replete with heroic last stands that conjure up images of extreme courage, honor and valor. Some have been immortalized on film. Arguably, the most famous last stand in American history occurred in June 1876 near the Little Bighorn River. The battle, Custer's Last Stand, has been dramatized in fewer than two dozen films. Hollywood's interpretation of the battle has evolved, reflecting changes in attitudes toward Native Americans, westward expansion and the legends of its participants. This course will examine how Hollywood presented the battle over time and how these presentations mirrored changes in the public's perception and the writing of American history. Particular attention will be paid to Hollywood's treatment of the battle's most famous combatant: George Armstrong Custer.

Show Description
Instructor: L. Jon Grogan Fee: $0.00
Dates: 3/16/2023 - 4/13/2023 Days: Th Times: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Sessions: 5
This class will be held over Zoom
This class will meet on March 16, 23, 30; Apr 6 and 13.

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Banned, Persecuted and Demonized: Censored Literature in Democratic America
In this course we will read and discuss three novels by great writers who have been and are currently censored in libraries across America: “Fury” by Salman Rushdie; “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie; and “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood. In addition to discussing the major themes of these wonderful and important novels--racism, misogyny and reproductive freedom, and religious fanaticism--we will attempt to understand why these books and their authors, like so many others in the last few years, have been the subject of such a virulent campaign of persecution and censorship by America’s right wing. Within the context of our discussions, we will ask: What are so many afraid of? Why is book-banning always the knee jerk response to literature that questions or opposes mainstream thinking? Censorship leads to book banning, which leads to book burning, which leads to violence--what do the book banners really want?

Show Description
Instructor: Kenneth Boas Fee: $0.00
Dates: 3/15/2023 - 4/12/2023 Days: W Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Sessions: 5
This class will be held over Zoom
This class will meet on March 15, 22, 29; Apr 5 and 12.

Civil War Soldier
This course focuses on the Civil War soldier–who he (and in some cases, she) was, why he fought, what he wore, ate, fought with and experienced on a day-to-day basis. This includes drills, entertainment, medical care, and discipline. The course is presented through lectures, slides, film, and music.

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Instructor: David Albert Fee: $0.00
Dates: 2/1/2023 - 3/1/2023 Days: W Times: 10:00 AM - 11:50 PM Sessions: 5
This class will be held In-Person
This class will meet on Feb 1, 8, 15, 22 and March 1.

Cycles and Crises in American Economic History
The course will be a history of business cycles and economic crises that covers the period from the American founding to the 21st century. The course will address economic performance in the context of the evolving business and banking system and changes in public policy efforts. Cycle and crisis explanations will be explored. The course will be mostly lectures with questions and answers and discussion. No outside reading will be required, but students are encouraged to take notes so that the course content can be considered for an end-of-class discussion about the current economic situation.

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Instructor: William Van Lear Fee: $0.00
Dates: 2/1/2023 - 3/1/2023 Days: W Times: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Sessions: 5
This class will be held over Zoom
This class will meet on Feb 1, 8, 15, 22 and March 1.

Early Pittsburgh
We all know Pittsburgh as the Steel City, but what came before that? Through a mix of storytelling and lecture, we will explore the first 150 years of Pittsburgh history, from Pittsburgh’s origins in the French and Indian War through the Whiskey Rebellion, the keelboat era, and on to the great Homestead Strike of 1892, which laid the foundations for the rise of the steel industry.

Show Description
Instructor: Alan Irvine Fee: $0.00
Dates: 3/16/2023 - 4/13/2023 Days: Th Times: 12:30 PM - 2:20 PM Sessions: 5
This class will be held In-Person
This class will meet on March 16, 23, 30; Apr 6 and 13.

Ethiopian History and Folk Wisdom
The course comprises of two core components. These are Ethiopian history and Ethiopian folk wisdom. For Ethiopian history, three different eras will be presented: ancient, medieval and modern history of Ethiopia. For the Ethiopian folk wisdom component, members will explore Ethiopian foods and feeding habits, cultural celebrations of Ethiopia, dresses and dressing styles of Ethiopia, Ethiopian music, musical instruments and dancing, etc. In general, the course will provide members with a vivid picture of Ethiopia, its history and folk wisdom (culture).

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Instructor: Meshesha Jobo Fee: $0.00
Dates: 3/15/2023 - 4/12/2023 Days: W Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Sessions: 5
This class will be held over Zoom
This class will meet on March 15, 22, 29; Apr 5 and 12.

Examining the Nationality Rooms
Revisit the Nationality Rooms to learn of their history, explanations of their appearance, and how they tie together thematically. Along the way, you will be exposed to architecture, art history and studio arts knowledge, languages, and world events that have shaped the region and the world. Your guide each week will be the tour coordinator and advisor to the student tour guides, Michael Walter. Mr. Walter has been with the Nationality Room program for 16 years and has taught this course before. Members are encouraged to be inquisitive as we unpack the many layered appeal of the Nationality Rooms.

Show Description
Instructor: Michael Walter Fee: $0.00
Dates: 2/2/2023 - 3/2/2023 Days: Th Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Sessions: 5
This class will be held over Zoom
This class will meet on Feb 2, 9, 16, 23 and March 2.

First Contacts: Native and European Encounters in North America in the 17th Century
This set of lectures will examine European and Native American culture and society just before and during the age of colonization of North America in the 17th century. The cases we will give special attention to are the Jamestown settlement, the Plymouth colony and the Dutch settlement of New Netherland. We will look at the fraught relations that emerged in each area and how they contributed to the emergence of African American slavery and Americans’ distinct views of liberty, freedom, race and class.

Show Description
Instructor: Jared Day Fee: $0.00
Dates: 3/15/2023 - 4/12/2023 Days: W Times: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Sessions: 5
This class will be held over Zoom
This class will meet on March 15, 22, 29; Apr 5 and 12.

History of Ireland
The history of Ireland is nicely summed up in the tongue-in-cheek toast, “Here’s to the Irish, who never knew what they wanted, but always fought darn hard to get it.” So, what did the Irish want? We will explore the colorful history of Ireland, starting with the ancient Celts and St. Patrick, then the Vikings, the Normans, English conquest, the Plantations, and the origins of Catholic vs. Protestant conflicts. What was the Potato Famine and how did it create Irish-America? How did independence (for part of Ireland) from England lay the foundation for the Troubles in Northern Ireland? Finally, we look at the Good Friday Accords that ended the violence in the north and why Brexit threatens to undo all that.

Show Description
Instructor: Alan Irvine Fee: $0.00
Dates: 2/2/2023 - 3/2/2023 Days: Th Times: 10:00 AM - 11:40 AM Sessions: 5
This class will be held In-Person
This class will meet on Feb 2, 9, 16, 23 and March 2.

History of Modern Science
This course is the third in a three-part series on the history of Western science. It covers key developments in science from the late-18th century to the mid-20th century. Topics will include the origins of chemistry and biology as distinct scientific disciplines, the role of science in the Industrial Revolution and the Second World War, the development of electricity and the nuclear age, the Darwinian Revolution and the discovery of DNA.

Show Description
Instructor: Adam Davis Fee: $0.00
Dates: 2/3/2023 - 3/3/2023 Days: F Times: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Sessions: 5
This class will be held over Zoom
This class will meet on Feb 3, 10, 17, 24 and March 10.

History of the Supreme Court
Nearly every facet of our society has been profoundly-and frequently controversially impacted by Supreme Court decisions. Yet this is the least known of the three branches of our government. This course traces the history of America’s highest court and its significant rulings, including a discussion of the major justices and of those decisions that have shaped America and its Constitution.

Show Description
Instructor: Louise Mayo Fee: $0.00
Dates: 3/15/2023 - 4/12/2023 Days: W Times: 1:00 PM - 2:50 PM Sessions: 5
This class will be held In-Person
This class will meet on March 15, 22, 29; Apr 5 and 12.

Impact of Epidemics on Civilization: From Black Death to COVID
This course covers the major epidemics that have ravaged humanity and attempts to explain how those diseases have shaped who we are as a society. We will discuss the worst of the epidemic diseases as causative agents of change in history, religious traditions, social interactions and technology. The course will include a component that "looks forward” to the technologies that can help us, the interconnectedness that makes us more vulnerable and the politics of dealing with epidemics. We will also discuss bioterrorism threats.

Show Description
Instructor: Christine Milcarek Fee: $0.00
Dates: 3/14/2023 - 4/11/2023 Days: Tu Times: 10:00 AM - 11:50 AM Sessions: 5
This class will be held In-Person
This class will meet on March 14, 21, 28; Apr 4 and 11.

Music in the Classic Hollywood Western: Listening to Max Steiner
Often referred to as the “Father of Film Music,” Max Steiner (1888-1971) composed musical accompaniments for hundreds of feature films, 27 of which were westerns. As the most popular and lucrative film genre during much of Hollywood's history, the western offered Steiner the opportunity to compose music for diverse narratives and a variety of starring actors, representing important developments in its style. This course will focus on Steiner's music for several westerns, examining how Steiner adapted his Viennese musical background, grounded in an operatic style, to fit the frontier musical aesthetic. Lectures will include extensive film clips, but participants may want to watch complete films outside of class. In addition to a suggested biography of Steiner, there will be short weekly readings.

Show Description
Instructor: Mariana Whitmer Fee: $0.00
Dates: 3/14/2023 - 4/11/2023 Days: Tu Times: 1:00 PM - 2:50 PM Sessions: 5
This class will be held In-Person
This class will meet on March 14, 21, 28; Apr 4 and 11.

Northern Ireland: 1966 to 1994
In 2012, a former member of the Irish Republican Army and a former Ulster Volunteer Force prisoner met with University of Pittsburgh students in Belfast. The opening of the conversation went like this: Ex-prisoners: "You've been in Belfast for two weeks now and met with many people on both sides of the divide. Do you understand the conflict any better now?" Pitt students: "No. We are more confused now than when we got here." Ex-prisoners: "Good! You've learned something." Contradictory? Confusing? Counter-intuitive? Nonsensical? Intriguing? All the above? If you say, "all the above" then you will find this class "intriguing" because what you will do is move beyond the "inherited histories" of the modern conflict in Ireland.

Show Description
Instructor: Tony Novosel Fee: $0.00
Dates: 3/13/2023 - 4/10/2023 Days: M Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Sessions: 5
This class will be held over Zoom
This class will meet on March 13, 20, 27; Apr 3 and 10.

Notorious American Crimes from the 18th to the 20th Century
From colonial times through the 20th century there have been murders, assassinations, attempted assassinations, robberies, kidnappings, dangerous scams and strange frauds. Many of these crimes made news for a while, until something worse or a new disaster drew popular attention. This course will take a second look at some of the remaining ice-cold, unsolved mysteries.

Show Description
Instructor: John Burt Fee: $0.00
Dates: 1/30/2023 - 2/27/2023 Days: M Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM Sessions: 5
This class will be held In-Person
This class will meet on Jan 30; Feb 6, 13, 20 and 27.

Pittsburgh in the Gilded Age
Growth in heavy industry in Pittsburgh following the Civil War created a demand for labor. Immigrants from southern and eastern Europe and later from the South flocked to Pittsburgh, making it the eighth largest city in the United States by the end of the century. While captains of industry amassed unheard of wealth in the era before income tax, most Pittsburghers experienced low wages and unhealthful living conditions. This richly illustrated course will explore conditions for all strata of society, technical innovation, architecture and planning, the boom-and-bust economy, politics, labor strife and philanthropy.

Show Description
Instructor: Paul Tellers Fee: $0.00
Dates: 3/16/2023 - 4/13/2023 Days: Th Times: 10:00 AM - 11:40 AM Sessions: 5
This class will be held In-Person
This class will meet on March 16, 23, 30; Apr 6 and 13.

Pivotal Role of the Supreme Court at Inflection Points in U.S. History
This course will examine recent decisions of the reconstituted Supreme Court in an era of contested social and political issues such as abortion rights, relationship of religion to the government, gay marriage, voting rights restrictions, gun control, and gerrymandering. We will also look at these issues in the context of historical Supreme Court decisions at times of social and demographic change. We will review the actual text of the cases as well as commentary thereon. Cases to be discussed include "Somerset v. Stewart"; "Dred Scott"; civil rights cases; "Brown v. Board of Ed." as well as recent cases of "Dobbs v. Jackson"; "Roe v. Wade"; "Hobby Lobby" and "Citizens United." This list may vary depending on new decisions of the Court.

Show Description
Instructor: Saul Schapiro Fee: $0.00
Dates: 2/1/2023 - 3/1/2023 Days: W Times: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Sessions: 5
This class will be held over Zoom
This class will meet on Feb 1, 8, 15, 22 and March 1.

Presidency of Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln dealt with an incomparable crisis yet managed to preserve the Federal Union and, eventually, end slavery with a constitutional amendment. His cabinet, key members of Congress, a skilled team of diplomats, and, finally, a select group of military leaders all played key roles.

Show Description
Instructor: John Burt Fee: $0.00
Dates: 2/2/2023 - 3/2/2023 Days: Th Times: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Sessions: 5
This class will be held over Zoom
This class will meet on Feb 2, 9, 16, 23 and March 2.

Queer Voices in History
This course uses works of fiction and memoir to explore the lived experiences of LGBTQ individuals in the United States over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries. This is a course for members who are looking to add to pre-existing knowledge, as well as those who are new to queer theory and queer history. We will begin with building a foundation of understanding, including vocabulary and definitions, both regarding LGBTQ identities and the literary terms and themes. Each class will then focus on a specific time-period and theme, using a contemporary text to explore the trials, triumphs, and self-discovery of LGBTQ individuals and groups. Some themes may include finding queer folks in the past, the legal system and laws governing homosexuality, the medicalization of sexuality, activism and self-expression, the history of emotions, and futurism.

Show Description
Instructor: Bridget Keown Fee: $0.00
Dates: 2/2/2023 - 3/2/2023 Days: Th Times: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Sessions: 5
This class will be held over Zoom
This class will meet on Feb 2, 9, 16, 23 and March 2.

Russia after the Soviet Union: Yeltsin and Putin
It has now been 30 years since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Russia has seen a host of changes since then. Under Boris Yeltsin a complex society was deconstructed, and its pieces were bought up by oligarchs. Things fell apart. The average life expectancy plummeted by seven years. Yeltsin’s chosen successor, Vladimir Putin, has tried to put Russia back together and reestablish its power and confidence. We will examine the goals, reforms and wars of both men.

Show Description
Instructor: Chuck Hier Fee: $0.00
Dates: 3/13/2023 - 4/10/2023 Days: M Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM Sessions: 5
This class will be held In-Person
This class will meet on March 13, 20, 27; Apr 3 and 10.

Saving the Union, 1861–1865
Well-known people such as Clara Barton, Walt Whitman, and Frederick Douglass, along with hundreds of ordinary women and men on farms, railroads and in mills, in the words of Elisha Hunt Rhodes, gave "all for the Union."

Show Description
Instructor: John Burt Fee: $0.00
Dates: 3/15/2023 - 4/12/2023 Days: W Times: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Sessions: 5
This class will be held over Zoom
This class will meet on March 15, 22, 29; Apr 5 and 12.

Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes
This five-part course features the most famous shipwrecks ever recorded as well as some of the most talked about losses on the Great Lakes: 1) “The Most Famous Shipwreck of All Time” examines early cuneiform descriptions and biblical wrecks as well as Titanic, Fitzgerald and war losses, 2) “The Edmund Fitzgerald Investigations” is based on the instructor’s new book and bestselling PBS documentary and includes the building, career and loss of the Fitzgerald, 3) “Le Griffon--First Wreck on the Upper Lakes” is an hour-long look at LaSalle's first and last lake voyage and the search for his missing ship, 4) “Bottled Goodbyes” is based on the instructor's book of the same name and is about the most famous messages found in bottles, including from the Titanic, and 5) “Cutter Rescues” is about the Coast Guard's finest moments on the lakes. This includes the loss of the Escanaba during World War II.

Show Description
Instructor: Ric Mixter Fee: $0.00
Dates: 1/30/2023 - 2/27/2023 Days: M Times: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Sessions: 5
This class will be held over Zoom
This class will meet on Jan 30; Feb 6, 13, 20 and 27.

Singers/Songwriters of Rock, Part III
This course is a continuation of the exploration of the singer/songwriter’s movement from the early 1970s in rock and roll. As folk music was slowly declining in popularity, rock fans were drawn to artists who wrote and performed their own material. This course will delve into the careers of the singer/songwriter movement that dominated the radio and record charts, with some of the most memorable songs in the last century. The careers, music and extraordinary talents of these singers/songwriters will be presented (Harry Chapin, Jim Croce, Carly Simon, Neil Diamond, Laura Nyro, and Gordon Lightfoot).

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Instructor: Robert Joyce Fee: $0.00
Dates: 3/14/2023 - 4/11/2023 Days: Tu Times: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Sessions: 5
This class will be held over Zoom
This class will meet on March 14, 21, 28; Apr 4 and 11.

The Habsburgs, the Holy Roman Empire and the Thirty Years War (1618-1648)
This course examines one of the most murderous and tragic highpoints of the Protestant Reformation, when Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II sought to roll back Protestantism across all central and northern Europe. The resulting Thirty Years War would cause death tolls and devastation unmatched in European history until World War I.

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Instructor: Jared Day Fee: $0.00
Dates: 2/1/2023 - 2/22/2023 Days: W Times: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Sessions: 4
This class will be held over Zoom
This class will meet on Feb 1, 8, 15, and 22.

Unsung Heroes of Science & Technology in the 20th Century
This course examines the life and work of several lesser known but highly influential science and technology innovators of the 20th century. The list includes Claude Shannon, first to suggest that information could be measured and compressed; George Dantzig, whose work spawned the discipline of decision science; Grace Hopper, the Navy Rear Admiral inventor of the COBOL computer language; and Douglas Engelbart, whose 1968 “Mother of All Demos” inspired the Apple Macintosh and Microsoft Windows decades later. What were the sources of their creativity? What were the most important contemporary influences on their work and what inspired them? How have their contributions shaped the world we live in today?

Show Description
Instructor: Richard Wilson Fee: $0.00
Dates: 3/15/2023 - 4/12/2023 Days: W Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Sessions: 5
This class will be held over Zoom
This class will meet on March 15, 22, 29; Apr 5 and 12.

Whiskey Rebellion, 1791-1794: Collision of Crises
The sometimes-violent protests against the federal excise on distilled spirits had two conflicting origins: the national debt crisis, and the new national government’s plans to resolve it; and the ongoing crisis in the backcountry facing European incomers—how to obtain farms and gain land security, maintain customary practices and build a democratic polity. Two very different sets of goals and expectations led to angry and fearful reactions, which challenged the viability of constitutional government. Although usually studied from a national perspective, the Whiskey Rebellion will be viewed differently in this course. Presentations will emphasize the values, outlook, economics and politics of the communities west of the Appalachian Mountains.

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Instructor: Peter Gilmore Fee: $0.00
Dates: 3/13/2023 - 4/10/2023 Days: M Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Sessions: 5
This class will be held over Zoom
This class will meet on March 13, 20, 27; Apr 3 and 10.

Women in the Progressive Era
The period from 1890 to 1920 was the Progressive Era and was known for multiple interrelated reform movements. The Progressive Era reshaped and reformed American cities, politics, economics, and family life. Women were in the thick of these reforms, not only challenging the status of women, but creating many of the institutions that continue to shape our social, racial and political life. The course will look at the many ways that women changed and were changed during these three dynamic decades, and it will include such topics as social welfare, labor organizing, women's suffrage, urban renewal, birth control, and child protection.

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Instructor: Joan Gundersen Fee: $0.00
Dates: 3/13/2023 - 4/10/2023 Days: M Times: 1:15 PM - 2:50 PM Sessions: 5
This class will be held over In-Person
This class will meet on March 13, 20, 27; Apr 3 and 10.

Work and Labor Organization in Pittsburgh
These five lectures will present an overview of the evolution of work and the organization of labor at the Forks of the Ohio from 1700 to the present. It will examine inequality and class, racial and ethnic dynamics, social conflict, and the evolution of the means of production. Pittsburgh, a central force in American history, played a critical role in the evolution of the modern world. Nowhere is the rise and fall of an industrial society more dramatically displayed. Nowhere is the moral ambiguity of progress, the concentration of wealth and domination, clearer. Nowhere is the hope for a progressive and effective response to environmental collapse stronger. As the world crisis deepens, Pittsburgh’s history of social solidarity and the concerted activity of workers to demand a voice on the job was never more relevant.

Show Description
Instructor: Charles McCollester Fee: $0.00
Dates: 2/1/2023 - 3/1/2023 Days: W Times: 1:00 PM - 2:50 PM Sessions: 5
This class will be held In-Person
This class will meet on Feb 1, 8, 15, 22 and March 1.

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