For intending tourists and armchair travellers, this course provides an overview of the places, history, art, and architecture of Sicily – a spectacular island where one of the most dramatic and complicated cultures of the Mediterranean has been shaped by invaders and settlers, who include the ancient Greeks, the Arabs, and the Normans. We take illustrated tours of the main towns and tourist sites with in depth, interactive discussion of history and culture, including the ancient Gr... [More]

The Middle Ages was a time of great innovation in art and architecture with the massive Romanesque style merging with others to create the soaring and elaborate style known as Perpendicular in England and High Gothic on the Continent. Castles, too, grew from simple forts to grand chateaux, capable of sheltering hundreds of people in times of trouble or entertaining royalty as they travelled throughout the country. This study day will also look at some of the artistic elements of the... [More]

Since the 19th century, in every area of art – painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, music – Russia was in the forefront, bringing to the world dramatically new concepts of beauty. The names of Russian thinkers, writers, artists, architects, and musicians are known all over the world as the symbols of everything that is daring, beautiful and free. In the 20th century, the tremendous creative surge of experimentation continued. Through discussions, extracts from films and do... [More]

The French have long been known for their slightly more casual approach to love and marriage and the French Kings were certainly no exception. Some were happily married, others had made political marriages with foreign princesses that took no account of common interests or even language. The mistresses they took were some of the most beautiful and accomplished women of their day, and were often greedy, meddlesome and avaricious as well. The legacies of the women themselves ranged fr... [More]

The conflict in the Middle East can be traced back into ancient history to the Egyptians, the Jews, the followers of Baal, the Zoroastrians and the pagans of Greece and Rome. The arrival of the Christians brought another competing religion, and later the Muslims completed the picture. This course will look at all these religions and how people have fought under their different banners for control and ownership of not only Palestine but the whole area from Turkey to Persia. Course Co... [More]

Learn how to read and write hieroglyphs - ‘the gods words’ - in this practical introduction to the alphabet, grammar and vocabulary of this fascinating ancient script. Through simple exercises based on tomb, temple and biographical extracts you’ll discover for yourself the language, literature and culture of the ancient Egyptians. Course Content In Their Own Write Definition, historical development, not simply picture writing The basic Egyptian Alphabet, direction of reading, transl... [More]

This interactive course, developed and led by the Melton Centre at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is a comprehensive, sequential series of text-based lessons. This course reveals how many of the critical issues facing the Jewish people today have been with us throughout history. The course provides an overview of Jewish history and delves into the challenges and issues faced by Jewish people. It explores how ideas and conflicts are resolved in different ways in diverse communit... [More]

Hermeneutics is the theory and practice of textual interpretation. Originally hermeneutics was applied only to biblical exegesis, but by the 20th C it had become the philosophy of understanding and meaning creation in all areas of human life. In this course we will follow the development of this branch of philosophy through its main exponents: Dilthey, Gadamer, Ricoeur and Habermas. We will then consider one of the most ‘hermeneutic’ literary critics of the 20th C: Harold Bloom, thr... [More]

This course is a continuation of ‘Bede and Cultural life in Celtic and Anglo-Saxon Britain.’ It will present a more in-depth study of the world of the the Venerable Bede, the ‘father of English history’ and one of the most prolific and influential writers of the early Middle Ages. It will concentrate on his varied achievements as a writer, studying his work as an educationist, historian of both official history and daily life, and poet. The course will also examine the important sub... [More]

This interactive course, developed and led by the Melton Centre at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is a comprehensive, sequential series of text-based lessons. Understanding Jewish ethics is the essence of understanding Judaism. Participants will explore how Judaism views human behaviour and debates practical dilemmas in life. The course is organised thematically and has been tailored to suit the interests of Australian learners. Topics include Respect for Human Life, Justice, C... [More]