History Courses at WEA Sydney
Explore the past with WEA Sydney's history courses. From ancient civilisations and medieval empires to modern revolutions, our classes bring history to life. Learn from expert tutors as you uncover stories of saints and dictators, wars and peace, myths and facts. Join us in the Sydney CBD or online and discover the fascinating history of people, places, and ideas across the world.
Available Classes
A Celebration of 400 Years of Women Artists
<p>In every century there have been outstanding women artists who have achieved a reputation that has tested time and sat well-earned, alongside their male colleagues. Often their life stories are
...Approximately 5 hours
Available Classes
From French Royalty to Empire - Art and decorative elegance from Louis XIV's Versailles to Napoleon
<p>French monarchs managed their images as carefully as any self-branded celebrity today. How did Louis XIV use the artisans and artists of the day through his patronage to enhance and dazzle his
...Approximately 4 hours
Available Classes
Portraits of Russia: Rublëv, Pushkin, Turgenev, Borodin, Rimsky-Korsakov and Tchaikovsky
<p>This course, focussed on the life and work of some of Russia’s most outstanding personalities, will begin with the work of Andrey Rublëv, Russia’s most famous icon painter, and his circle, and the
...Approximately 6 hours
Available Classes
Portraits of Scandinavia: Norway and Denmark
<p>The cold lands of the far north have in fact produced inspiring examples of music, drama, art and philosophy to match the best of the more famous cultures of France and Italy. Explore the genius of
...Approximately 6 hours
Available Classes
A Day in the Life on an Archaeological Dig
<p>The Macquarie Theban Tombs project has been excavating at the Egyptian site of Dra Abu el-Naga in the Valley of the Nobles in Luxor since 1991. Based on first-hand experience from the 2015/16 dig
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Available Classes
The Middle East from Ancient Times to Today
<p>The Middle East, especially the “Holy Land” has been conquered and ruled by many generals, empires and kings. Today, it is probably more volatile than at any time in its history. This course looks
...The Middle East from Ancient Times to Today
<p>The Middle East, especially the “Holy Land” has been conquered and ruled by many generals, empires and kings. Today, it is probably more volatile than at any time in its history. This course looks
...
Available Classes
Chartres and Versailles Revisited - Their Importance in French Cultural Life
<p>Come and enjoy this presentation centred on recently-taken photos of Chartres and Versailles, two outstanding locations close to Paris. Learn about their continuing significance to French cultural
...Chartres and Versailles Revisited - Their Importance in French Cultural Life
<p>Come and enjoy this presentation centred on recently-taken photos of Chartres and Versailles, two outstanding locations close to Paris. Learn about their continuing significance to French cultural
...
Available Classes
Circling Death - the World of the Roman Arena
<p>Arguably the most archetypical image of Rome is that of the gladiator fighting in the arena. The “sword and sandal” epics of popular culture often emphasise the amphitheatre as a place of Christian
...Available Classes
Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know
<p>When Lady Caroline Lamb famously announced that Lord Byron was “mad bad and dangerous to know” she could not have known that her stinging description would resonate through millennia of history.
...Available Classes
The other Pope Leo: Leo XIII and his impact on the world
<p>In 1878, the College of Cardinals chose an older Italian from a noble background. They expected that he wouldn’t last long and that he wouldn’t make any change of consequence. How wrong they would
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