Online History Courses

This class starts at the very beginning—the Big Bang—and continues into the future, discussing the links between important events along the way. The course’s overarching framework is augmented with “zooming in” lectures from experts who offer different points of view on historic events.

This course is a beginner-level overview of ancient European history through 1500 AD. Students learn about significant historic periods and cultures, as well as the social, political and religious changes that took place from ancient to Medieval times.

This series of three courses introduces students to the causes and events of the Civil War, as well as emancipation and post-war struggles. Students will gain an understanding of social and political impacts of the Civil War and its aftermath. Each course may be taken individually if desired.

In 42 episodes, author and vlogger John Green takes students on an amusing and informative crash course through world history. This series of videos is ideal for anyone who wants to get plenty of easy-to-swallow information on everything from the Neolithic Revolution to present-day globalization.

This introductory art history course, the first in a year-long series, provides a survey of European painting, sculpture and architecture from 1300 AD through the 20th century. It’s designed for those who have little prior knowledge on the subject.

This course is the first of two parts on the history of the Holocaust. Students will look the development of Nazi ideology, particularly where Jewish citizens fit into it; broader contexts of the Holocaust and its role in World War II; and the different aspects of individual experience during the Holocaust.

This self-paced series of five courses gives students a comprehensive look at Chinese literature, culture, philosophy, and politics from the Neolithic era through the last dynasty. Students who want to focus on specific eras, dynasties or philosophies can opt to take individual courses instead of the entire series.

Students look at significant eras and movements that occurred after World War II. Students will learn about subjects including the Cold War, communism and anti-communism, the rise of suburbia, the Korean War, tensions in the atomic age, the Civil Rights movement, the Bay of Pigs, the Vietnam War, and Watergate.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of Middle Eastern history, with a primary focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The goal of the course is to bring clarity to the conflict that continues today by examining the social, political, religious, and cultural factors of the preceding 2,000 years.

This course gives a brief overview of prehistoric art in Europe and West Asia, focusing on the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras. Students will explore specific examples of prehistoric art as they learn about the origins of art. The course also provides additional resources for those who want to continue their studies.

When done right, online history courses can be more easily individualized than a live course. That allows for deeper exploration, and greater rigor. It also eliminates some of the nonsense that comes from in-person classes. For example, in an online course, you don’t have to waste time listening to someone ask an idiotic question just to earn “class participation” points or curry favor.

Adults benefit more than anyone from a rigorous history course, since adults can vote. An informed understanding of history gives adults a better perspective from which to make intelligent political decisions.

Look closely at the material. A strong history course will use a combination of close reading of entire primary sources and rigorous, comparatively unbiased textbooks. That means that the textbooks should not be the ones chosen by school boards. The primary sources studied should be studied in their entirety. In other words, a course that includes Locke’s Second Treatise on Civil Government should study the whole text. A good history course will be hard. It will build your reading skills along with your understanding of history. A bad history course will be easy, and full of feel-good propaganda.