Courses about Ancient Civilisations

Shrouded in mystery and legend, Amazonian and Central American cultures reveal surprising links to societies of the Andes that defy and challenge common perceptions about the rise of civilisation in the Americas.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

More details about this fascinating course will be published very soon.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Introduce yourself to the archaeology of the ancient world, from the palaces of the Minoans and Mycenaeans to the Roman Forum.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Explore the little known history of pre-Columbian civilizations North of Mexico and their links to Aztec and other Mexican cultures.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

How do you define magic and divination? Why has the Western world traditionally viewed magic as opposed to religion and science? These and other issues will be discussed in this thought-provoking course.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Come and explore the journey of the Argonauts and discover Jason.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Discover stunning objects from ancient Greece and the evidence they provide for the lives of ancient people. Spend the afternoon having a close look at the British Museum's collection.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Discover the art and architecture of Spain during the Arab domination (711-1493).



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Myth permeated all aspects of ancient society and much the same can be said today. Investigate the relevance and perseverance of the Greek myth and why these tales continue to fascinate.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

In 120 BC, Rome was a city-state with functioning republican institutions that made room for a substantial element of democracy. It was also the dominant power in the Mediterranean World. By 20 AD, Rome was the capital of an autocratic empire that covered virtually the whole of the Mediterranean World and most of its surrounding territories. Between these dates, Rome saw the collapse of its ancient governing institutions in an orgy of political assassination, civil wars, purges, and military dictatorships.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

The Crusades are the defining event of the Middle Ages. They brought the very different civilisations of Western Europe, Byzantium and Islam into an extended period of both conflict and peaceful co-existence. The biggest loser was the Byzantine Empire, which emerged shattered and doomed from the encounter. The biggest winner was Western Europe, which was brought in close contact with the older and more sophisticated civilisations of the East, and which found its own progress greatly hastened. As for Islam, the Crusades ensured that the Near East would be gradually brought under the long hegemony of the Ottomans.







This was an age of striking individuals – Alexius, Bohemond, Enrico Dandolo, Saladin, Richard the Lion Heart, and many others. It is an age filled with unforgettable – and possibly true – stories of heroism and atrocity.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Greek voyages of exploration find echoes in Homer’s epic narrating the adventures of Odysseus. Other myths also find confirmation in archaeology showing the foundation of colonies throughout the Western Mediterranean. Known as ‘Greater Greece’, these lands preserve some of the loveliest art anywhere in the Greek world. The Greek cities were key players in politics & warfare in the Mediterranean.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Myth permeated all aspects of ancient society and much the same can be said today. Investigate the relevance and perseverance of the Greek myth and why these tales continue to fascinate.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.