History Lessons in NYC, New York

Over six thousand years ago, the marshes of Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq) were home to a remarkable and ingenious group of people. Known as the Sumerians, they were the first to use writing and the first to live in cities. They rode the first wheeled vehicles, founded our modern system of mathematics and made detailed observations of the planets and...

Dinosaurs! Science! Adventure! Break out your pith helmet as we embark upon a brazen expedition through the halls of New York City's world-famous American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). Join your maverick tour guide as we deftly navigate this massive 27-building, 1.6 million square foot landmark cultural institution. Learn the science...

Meet the badass Brooklynites who brought us the ballot. Behind the stately facades of Brooklyn Heights’ most gracious brownstones lies the history of firebrand feminism! The wise “women of Brooklyn” were doctors, lawyers, educators and orators who made some of the foremost contributions to the Suffrage movement. Join us for a walk through their...

WrestleMania meets Debate Club Your hosts Meg Pierson, Zak Martellucci, and Dustin Growick lead a rotating cast of special guest experts in a battle royale of serious—and not so serious—topics.  Who will come out on top? Dinosaurs or mammals? Biology or physics? Space or oceans? Chock-full of trivia, games, and prizes,...

From the population exchange that forged modern Greece and Turkey to the post-WWII division of South Asia and Palestine to the more recent dissolution of Yugoslavia, the 20th century was a time of partition and the compulsory movement of peoples. Often narrated as the inevitable result of different national and ethnic groups inhabiting the same territory–the...

Cleopatra needs no introduction. One of the most famous names of the ancient world, her life is the stuff of legend: her great beauty, her highly-publicized relationships with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, her tragic suicide. The subject of countless paintings, statues, plays and films, she's been portrayed by everyone from Elizabeth Taylor to Kim...

The arts become a powerful tool by generating dialogue, strengthening a sense of community, and envisioning community based interventions. In this course, we examine how artists, cultural workers, and community activists have devised creative strategies for responding to institutional and interpersonal violence and trauma. How does creativity work...

Why Your Train is F*cked: A love/hate show about the history of the MTA You know when your train is f*cked – this is the show that tells you WHY. Get on board for a deep dive into the history of the MTA. Whether you love it, hate it, or want to compose more informed rage-tweets about it during your next 20 minute delay – we’ve got you covered....

In 1603, one of the momentous events in history occurred when the Scottish King, James VI inherited the throne of England following the death of his cousin Elizabeth. He combined his two nations and called them Great Britain – and all subsequent kings and queens of Britain are his descendants to the present day. The telling of British royal history...

Social theory, both classical and contemporary, has always wrestled with the issue of identity, seeking to interpret and explain the social processes and political struggles by means of which individual and collective identities are construed. Since the dawn of modernity, human identity—who we are as individual and collective beings—has not been...

For 5,000 years, cacao has been a plant that brings out the best and worst in mankind. Ethnobotanist Brian Hockaday will trace the journey of Theobroma cacao, from its earliest use as an alcoholic beverage to its pivotal role in Mayan society and politics, and from its adoption by colonial powers to its expanding role in modern global economics,...

Did you hear about bidets on Saturday Night Live once, but aren't entirely sure what they are? You're not alone.  Bidets are not a recent phenomenon in the world, but the US has been reluctant to adopt them. A lot of people think they're gross. Others aren't entirely sure what's the point of using a bidet. This class aims to change your mind. ...

Full Course Name: Masters of Social Gastronomy: Romance and Revenge, the History of Aphrodisiacs and Poisons Every culture has a long history of aphrodisiacs – love-inducing and libido-promoting foods, ranging from the commonplace to the esoteric. Is chocolate the rightful king of Valentines Day, or could we do better with a tiger’s unmentionables?...

What is literature? And what kinds of meanings, uses, values, histories, and philosophical positions do we attach to literature in the act of reading it?  Literary theory, the diverse body of thought that addresses these fundamental questions, has pursued a stunning array of methods in its attempts to understand how literature works. This course,...

The House from the late 19th Century to the 21st Century  T1: Sources of European Arts and Crafts, and Art Nouveau, Early 20th Century: 1890s-1910s  The work of Charles R. Mackintosh (Scotland), Peter Behrens (Germany), Joseph Hoffman (Austria), Antonio Gaudi (Spain), Philip Webb (England), Japanese influences, Victor Horta & Henry...