All upcoming World History programs

The War of 1812 is among the most misunderstood wars in American history. Historian Richard Bell argues its causes, course, and consequences have long been obscured by the American Revolution and the Civil War. More than the conflict that inspired the national anthem says Bell, it was a defining moment in a young republic, establishing American credibility abroad, securing independence, shaping national identity, entrenching states’ rights, and unleashing imperial ambitions—all at extraordinary human cost.

After the devastation of World War II, Italy transformed into one of Europe’s great economic success stories of the 1950s and 1960s by embracing Western consumerism. Through globally popular films, advertising, and design, the country projected an image of modernity, elegance, and pleasure that captivated international audiences. Lecturer Adam Tanner examines how the myth of la dolce vita forged during these boom years continues to shape how Italy is imagined, both at home and abroad.

Between 1400 and 1800, the people of Europe, Africa, and the Americas grew more connected by overseas trade and colonization. According to historians Christopher Hodson and Brett Rushforth, accounts of this transformative era have overlooked the reach of the pre-Napoleonic French Empire. Hodson and Rushforth, authors of Beyond the Ocean: France and the Atlantic World from the Crusades to the Age of Revolutions, examine the significant role that France played in the history of the Atlantic world and the ways it shaped France in return.

Art historian Laura Morelli illuminates the vibrant world of the Etruscans, an ancient Italian people often shrouded in mystery despite their rich and distinctive cultural legacy. Drawing on masterworks of painting, sculpture, and metalwork uncovered in central Italian tombs, she reveals how the Etruscans envisioned the afterlife and adorned their burial spaces with remarkable luxury items. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Founded by the hermit monks of San Girolamo in 1396 in Venice, the Church of San Sebastiano can be described as Venetian artist Paolo Veronese’s “Sistine Chapel.” The church houses a cycle of paintings that are the most important works Veronese created. Other notable works found in the church and sacristy include Titian's St. Nicholas and works by Paris Bordone, Jacopo Tintoretto, and Bonifacio de' Pitati. Italian Renaissance art expert Rocky Ruggiero discusses Veronese’s paintings and highlights other noteworthy works in the church. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

From September to November 1918, a hard-fought World War I battle that pitted green, poorly equipped American doughboys against combat-hardened German troops saw the U.S. military come of age in the brutal clash known as the Battle of the Meuse–Argonne. The U.S. Army pushed the Germans back and helped end World War I—succeeding where Allies had stalled for years. Military historian Mitchell Yockelson highlights key figures, including fighter ace Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker, Cpl. Alvin York, Gen. John J. Pershing, Lt. Gen. Hunter Liggett, Capt. Harry S. Truman, Lt. Col. George S. Patton, and Col. Douglas MacArthur, the war’s most decorated soldier.

The Louisiana Purchase is often remembered as a simple bargain—four cents an acre and a nation that doubled in size overnight. But the true story is far more complex, global, and consequential. Historian Alexander Mikaberidze examines how the 1803 purchase from France led to the birth of the U.S.–Indian treaty system, redefined the United States, and reshaped the modern world.

When Mount Vesuvius erupted in the year 79, it inadvertently preserved the most extensive and intact ruins anywhere in the ancient world. Drawing on the material remains of Herculaneum and Pompeii, historian Justin M. Jacobs paints a lively portrait of daily urban life in the Roman Empire. He explores the fascinating history of the earliest digs at these sites during the 18th century, when they were regarded as a private quarry of Roman antiquities for a Bourbon king.

Using evidence from the most recent archaeological discoveries, Jacquelyn Williamson, a specialist in Egypt and an associate professor of ancient art and archeology at George Mason University, surveys the social and historical realities of the Egyptian civilization from its early pyramids through its art created under King Akhenaten, who upended centuries of tradition to create new artistic conventions. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)

Art historian Sophia D’Addio of Columbia University explores how Renaissance Italian art—from sacred images to elite portraits and monumental architecture—was crafted to inspire devotion, awe, and admiration. Covering the 14th to 16th centuries, a 5-session series highlights major works, their innovative forms, and the powerful patrons behind them. Participants gain insight into how artists shaped viewers’ experiences and communicated religious, social, and political meaning. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit)