Beginners Global & Imperial History Courses
Journey through time across the globe with our world history courses for beginners, available both online and in London. These expert-led courses provide an engaging introduction to world history, from ancient civilisations to modern global events.
Study the rise and fall of empires, the development of world religions, major historical events, and the evolution of cultures across different continents. Our courses offer an accessible overview of key historical periods, from the early foundations of societies to the complexities of the modern world.
With live interactive sessions, group discussions, and supportive tutor feedback, our courses provide a welcoming space for anyone new to the subject or looking to deepen their knowledge of world history.
Explore our beginners world history courses today, available both online and in London, and take your first step into understanding the history that has shaped our world.
15 courses available
Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan 1917-21: Revolution, Conflict and Experiments in IndependenceJoin our tutor David Rowson to discover the fascinating history of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, otherwise known as the South Caucasus.
Online
Thu 22 Oct 2026David RowsonFull fee £189.00 Senior fee £189.00 Concession £123.00- Diaspora history: Chinese communities around the worldTrace the movements of the Chinese diaspora from the 10th century to the present day and dive into case studies highlighting the Chinese communities’ integration and influence in different regions of the world.
Keeley Street
Sat 31 Oct 2026Qiuyang ChenFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - The Spanish Empire: Power, Conquest, and Legacy
Join Dr. Maisa Edwards to explore the rise, global reach and fall of the Spanish Empire from the 1400s to the 1800s.
Online
Tue 10 Nov 2026Maisa EdwardsFull fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £84.00 - Global History Friday Lates: Diamonds: A Billion Years of Sparkling History
Why are diamonds ‘a girl’s best friend’? Explore their billion-year journey through geology, history, and culture, to reveal the brilliance and allure behind these timeless treasures.
Online
Fri 11 Dec 2026Vanessa KingFull fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - European global empires
This course compares the main European global empires - Spanish, British, Portuguese and Dutch - by taking a thematic approach to the acquisition of empire, settlement, history and legacy in each case.
Keeley Street
Thu 7 Jan 2027Michael SchraerFull fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £103.00 - Global encounters: Europe and the Ottoman Empire, 1100-1700The Turks entered European consciousness in 1071 when they captured the Byzantine emperor at the Battle of Manzikert. So began centuries of uneasy co-existence between Christians and Muslims on the fringes of Europe.Full fee £189.00 Senior fee £151.00 Concession £123.00
- The French colonial Empire and its demiseWhy did France acquire a vast colonial empire and how was it run? Why was decolonisation peaceful in some parts while in Indochina and Algeria, independence was only gained after violent wars? What were the consequences of decolonisation?
Keeley Street
Thu 14 Jan 2027Sebastien ArdouinFull fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00 - Global encounters: beyond Europe in 12 Objects, 1500-1750
Twelve objects tell extraordinary tales of European adventures in Africa and the Far East. Six weeks of spice routes, silk roads, and surprising encounters. History's treasures await your discovery!
Online
Thu 14 Jan 2027Vanessa KingFull fee £189.00 Senior fee £151.00 Concession £123.00 - East and Central African history - a brief introduction
Want to know more about East and Central African history but not sure where to start? Join us in this course to get a footing and build knowledge and appetite for more African history!
Keeley Street
Fri 15 Jan 2027Martin JorgensenFull fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £103.00 - Seventy years in the Soviet grip: the experience of the people of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia within the USSRJoin us to explore the long period during which the different nations of the South Caucasus were part of the Soviet Union, starting with their annexation and ending with the break-up of the Soviet state seventy years later, which resulted in renewed independence for the three republics. This experience was at different times revolutionary, traumatic, stultifying and nation-shaping.
Online
Thu 21 Jan 2027David RowsonFull fee £189.00 Senior fee £189.00 Concession £123.00 - Global History Friday Lates: tea & tea trading
Explore the fascinating history of tea consumption in Britain and the global trade networks that brought it here.
Online
Fri 29 Jan 2027Linsey HunterFull fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - Turkish Letters and More: Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689-1762)
Writer, traveller, social critic, and medical innovator, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu was a remarkable woman. We look at her contribution to 18th-century literature, her groundbreaking travel writing, and advocacy for smallpox inoculation.
Keeley Street
Sat 6 Mar 2027Vanessa KingFull fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00 - Lunchtime Lecture: Britain, Nuclear Testing & The Christmas Island Controversy
During this lunchtime lecture we will assess the role of Britain in nuclear testing, developments and warfare in the late 1950s with reference to the controversy surrounding the detonation of Nuclear bombs off the coast of Christmas Island in the Pacific. Tutor: Ellen Carpenter. Ellen is the daughter of a British Christmas Island veteran.
Keeley Street
Tue 22 Jun 2027Ellen CarpenterFull fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - Global history for beginnersWhat is global history? How is it different from other ways of understanding history? This introductory course will give you a sense of what it means to study global history.
Online
Thu 1 Oct 2026Olivia Durand, Martin JorgensenFull fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00 - History, memory and mental wealth: why we need to talk about empireFormally, European imperialism ended decades ago. Yet, the different legacies still affect the world and many societies today. Join us for a discussion on why we need to talk about empire and mental wealth.
Keeley Street
Fri 9 Oct 2026Martin JorgensenFull fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £5.00
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