Just a couple of hours away by air, the ancient and present home of the Maya of Central America presents a fascinating world of history, architecture and art. This course explores the Maya through a serial visit to the standing remains of ancient Mayan cities and sacred centers, from the jungles of Guatemala and Chiapas to the northern landscape of the Yucatec Maya. The focus is on the art and architecture, along with discussion of the history and features of the great civilization responsible for their creation. The course is designed as a two-day series, and the presentations will feature the speaker's personal photography from numerous forays into the region.

You may know Button Gwinnett, but do you know Dionysius Crandell Oliver or Tugalo Harvie Risner? This presentation covers politicians from across Georgia history who have very unusual names.

This session will explore Historic Athens’ broad impact—from preserving historic buildings and protecting cultural landmarks to engaging the public through events, education, and advocacy. Attendees will learn about programs such as our monthly History Hours, seasonal walking tours, the Historic Athens Welcome Center, Porchfest, youth development efforts, and more.

This class will cover the fascinating journey of the Koh-i-Noor diamond—from its discovery in the alluvial plains of Southern India to its prized position as the “Jewel in the Crown” of the British monarchy. The resulting history is one of greed, murder, torture and colonialism that cuts through a swathe of British, Indian and central Asian history.

Historical narratives are simplifications but necessary ones. Otherwise, as one 19th century English scholar put it, “History becomes just one damn fact after another.” This course will focus on two of the grandest of all historical narratives. First, in the history of ideas, is the long and tortured road from the essentialist thinking of the ancient Greeks to modern existentialism. Second, is the development in recent decades of so-called Big History, which sees ALL history—natural as well as human, and from the Big Bang to current events—as a product of a common evolutionary process. Hold on to your hats!