All upcoming World History programs

Andrea Palladio’s villas, palaces, and churches encompass the mathematical harmony, classical inspiration, and humanist ideals that defined the Renaissance in Italy. His architectural language crossed eras and oceans, inspiring everything from English country estates to American civic buildings and even the White House. Art historian Elaine Ruffolo explores Palladio’s life, works, and philosophy, revealing how a former stonemason from Vicenza shaped the foundations of Western architecture. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Augustine of Hippo (354–430) harnessed the philosophical heritage of antiquity to express a new Christian philosophy, one that would have a huge impact—and shape how it would be seen for two millennia. Augustine scholar Scott MacDonald of Cornell University explores some of the concepts of faith, good and evil, human nature, and the search for the divine as reflected in Augustine’s major works.

In the late 14th century, the Catholic Church became a house divided against itself when it was confronted by two popes claiming to be the rightful heir of St. Peter. The crisis persisted for decades and even led to the election of a third pope. What has become known as the Papal Schism or the Western Schism weakened the papacy and had long-lasting effects. Historian John Freymann examines the context and causes of the schism and highlights the theological and ecclesiastical consequences of this episode in the history of Catholicism.

The Greek comic poet Menander, who lived in the 4th century B.C.E., is not exactly a household name, but he greatly influenced what people see when they go to the movies or watch TV shows. Starting in the 320s B.C.E., Menander wrote new types of plays that featured romance and familial relationships rather than politics, the usual theme. Classics professor Mitch Brown illustrates how, through his successors, Menander helped shape theater in the Renaissance—ultimately becoming responsible for domestic and relationship-focused plays, movies, and sitcoms that are still popular today.

Avocados are one of today’s most beloved foods, valued for their rich flavor, healthy fats, and essential nutrients. But long before, avocados evolved as nourishment for giant Ice Age animals like sloths and mammoths. When those creatures vanished, humans stepped in, reshaping the fruit through domestication and forest management. Archaeobotanist Heather Thakar follows the avocado’s history from the highlands of ancient Honduras to today’s grocery stores.

The reign of Queen Elizabeth II was exceptional for many reasons, including her remarkable longevity, her enduring marriage to Prince Philip, and her success in concealing her opinions on virtually any contentious subject. For many people, she embodied dutifulness, service, and continuity in a rapidly changing world. Historian Sir David Cannadine puts the life of Elizabeth II in perspective, set against a broad domestic and international context.

A cascade of violence between England and France, the Hundred Years War (1337–1453) included some of the most significant battles in history. Military historian Michael Livingston examines how medieval Europe was consumed by two full centuries of war from 1292 to 1492 far beyond the borders of its main combatants and how this prolonged violence helped shape modern Europe’s political systems, military innovations, and national identities.

The pyramids at Giza, catacombs of ancient Rome, and cenotaphs around the world all commemorate the dead. Historian Roger Luckhurst delves into the often-unexpected visual culture surrounding these and other burial sites. Along the way, he explores the varied roles graveyards have played in literature, art, film, and television.

The year 2025 marks the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which met in 325 in the presence of Constantine, the first Christian Roman emperor. The gathering of some 250 bishops was a momentous event and is remembered as the first ecumenical council, which composed the original Nicene Creed still used in modified form today. However, what really happened at the council remains controversial. Historian David Gwynn explores Nicaea’s disputed legacy for both Christianity and the Roman empire.

Behind the grandeur of the Tudor throne lurked a deep fascination with alchemy, astrology, and signs from the divine. Major events such as marriages, coronations, treaties, and military campaigns were often timed according to favorable alignments of the stars. Historian Cheryl White unlocks a hidden world of power where monarchs sometimes navigated political intrigue with the assistance of the dark currents of occult belief.