The life and times of George I
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
Course Code: HBH81
Duration: 3 sessions (over 3 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Center for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
From being the ruler of an obscure German electorate George I suddenly became king of on the most powerful nations in the world in his fifties. He was never popular in his new kingdom but established a constitutional monarchy
which has survived to today. Explore his life and world on this interactive lecture course.
This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.
What will we cover?
We will examine George’s German background and experiences as ruler in Hanover, how he succeeded to the throne in the most unlikely manner, his limited knowledge of his new kingdom, his policies, his stormy marriage,
unusual mistresses and his love of music, especially that of Handel, the attempts by the Jacobites to oust him and
other crises.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Identify key stages in the history of early Hanoverian England
- Demonstrate understanding of the roles of the king and parliament in the C18th
- Contribute to discussions on how the insistence of a protestant monarch shaped modern Britain.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is an `introductory` course and does not assume any previous study or reading although you will need a good
grasp of English to keep up with the course. You will gain more from the course, in terms of enjoyment and
learning, if you are able and willing to do some supplementary reading. As with most of our history and current
affairs courses, intellectual curiosity and an open mind are more important than specific levels of skills.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The course will consist of online illustrated lectures, discussions, and questions.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
There are no necessary costs although further reading will be suggested. Paper and pen to make notes.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Other courses in British history. Please see the City Lit website.
After a BA in History & Geography at Keele with Music, Education and Greek Studies as subsidiaries, William Sterling taught History full-time before becoming a Civil Servant working for the Departments of Transport and Education. This allowed him to study part-time for his MA from Birkbeck and PhD from King’s College, London. From 1992, he lectured in Adult Education at a number of colleges before joining the City Lit in 2008. Since 1994 he has been an official Gallery Guide at the British Museum, covering the whole museum but specialising in the Ancient Greeks, Romans and Etruscans, the Medieval & Modern European and Enlightenment Galleries. As a lecturer, he specialises in those same areas as well as Royal History (especially British Monarchs from 1603 to 1910), Composers’ Lives and other Cultural, especially interdisciplinary, topics. He also lectures on Cruise Ships on subjects ranging from Vikings to Shakespeare. He runs a website offering free resources on the subjects he teaches.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
