THIS IS A TWO-SEMESTER COURSE.

Eric Voegelin called history “the unfolding of a pattern of meaning in time.” In this course, students not only will examine major events and trends in world history from “the Dawn of Man” to the year 1500 but will attempt to see patterns of meaning revealed in them. The instructor will focus on the prehistoric era, ancient Egypt, ancient Greece (including Greek drama and philosophy), the rise of Christianity and Christian culture, the Roman Empire, the “Dark Ages,” the rise of Islam and Islamic culture, and the Middle Ages. Indian, Chinese, and various Indigenous cultures will also be included.

Class Meetings: Thursdays, 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Fall Semester: September 10 – December 17, 2026*
Spring Semester: January 14 – May 13, 2027*
*Please note that there will be no class meetings on Nov. 26, 2026, and April 1, 2027.

Student Expectations: There will be weekly reading and writing assignments. Students should plan on about one to three hours of homework per week.

Student Support: The instructor is available via email, as well as by phone call or text.

Feedback/Assessment: The instructor will provide detailed feedback on all submitted assignments, both in writing and during each class session.

Materials: The instructor will provide all required texts and resources as PDFs or Google docs.