Delve into history

Explore the events of the past, and how they’ve shaped the world we live in today. Immerse yourself in different eras, marvel at historic achievements, and examine how different things could have been.  

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All of our courses are designed to help develop your skills in historical research and analysis, encouraging you to look beyond the surface of key historical moments. From the history of King Arthur to World War I and II, you’ll develop a better understanding of key historic customs, beliefs, and ways of life.   

Whether you consider yourself a history buff with decades of experience, or someone just starting out that wants to learn more, you can choose from a wide selection of topics.   

Attend a WEA history course near you  

A variety of our history courses are taught in-person or are delivered online - it all depends on what suits your needs best. From the comfort of your own home to a space in your local community. Whichever option you choose, you’ll be taught by a talented tutor who is vastly experienced.   

The support you’ll receive on our history courses  

They'll help you develop an understanding that goes beyond just what's on the surface, all within a friendly and encouraging environment that ensures you attend each session with the excitement to learn.   

It’s our learning experience that sets us apart too, with many of those attending our courses going on to achieve incredible things. You’ll learn at a pace that’s comfortable for you too, with a friendly supportive tutor on hand to answer any questions you might have. 

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History: Women of Astronomy and Space

Join us to take a look at the amazing yet unsung women of astronomy and space who were pioneers but often overlooked or ignored. From ancient times to the modern era it is time to shine a light on their amazing achievements. From Aganice of Thessaly, a Greek astronomer of the 2nd or 1st century BC, Hypatia of Alexandria 370 – 450 AD, Elisabeth Hevelius (17th century), Caroline Herschel (18th Century) to ‘Pickerings Women’ at Harvard and into the modern age of spaceflight with such luminaries as Annie Easley, Katherine Johnson, Astronauts Sally Ride and pioneering Mae Jemison amongst many others.
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Course Information

Dates:
Sat 16/11/2024 -
Sat 16/11/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
The Minster (Grimsby)
St James Square
Grimsby
DN31 1EP
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00017920
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £15.00

History: Jesus as a Historical Figure - What can we know?

A chance to ask historical questions about the most famous individual in history. Did Jesus even exist? What historical sources do we have about him? Are the gospels reliable? What was Jesus’ attitude to the Roman Empire? Why was he crucified? On this introductory course, you will find out what historians say about Jesus – from the issues on which most scholars agree to those on which they are bitterly divided. You will have chance to apply historical scrutiny to some early texts about Jesus – including from the New Testament – and to draw your own conclusions about what we can know and whether it matters. This course is open to people of any religion and none.
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Course Information

Dates:
Sat 23/11/2024 -
Sat 23/11/2024
Times:
10:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Reading International Solidarity Centre
35-39 London Street
Reading
RG1 4PS
Tutor:
Symon Hill
Course code:
Q00017286
How you'll learn:
In venue
Status:
Waiting list
Fee range
Free to £25.20

History: A Social History of Christmas Food in Britain: Its Significance & Meaning

This four week course will explore the history of Christmas food and feasting from the Mediaeval Era to the High Victorian Age. We will examine the foodstuffs associated with the Christmas Festival throughout these centuries, and descriptions and recipes of various Christmas staples and delicacies will be provided on Canvas, accompanied by illustrations and other forms of mixed media. As far as possible we will refer to contemporary documents from each period to support our conjectures and conclusions regarding the British Christmas, discussing how there isn’t a single Christmas, but instead many Christmases depending on social position throughout the span of centuries addressed.
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Course Information

Dates:
Mon 25/11/2024 -
Mon 16/12/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00019623
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £29.60

Humanities: Christmas dinner – what, where and why

We generally think of a “traditional” Christmas dinner as being “turkey and all the trimmings”, but what are they, why are they traditional, and where do all of them come from, historically and today? Perhaps not surprisingly, some traditions go far further back than others. What do those sprouts have to do with Brussels, and why are they compulsory? My explanations will be based on my interest in historical cookery, but the recipes (available to download after the talk) will be on a purely practical and modern basis.
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Course Information

Dates:
Tue 26/11/2024 -
Tue 26/11/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Jane Williams
Course code:
Q00019856
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £7.40

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Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

History: ‘Happy Christmas’ – celebrating the big day through the ages

Join us to find out more about how people celebrated the ‘big day’ in the past. This course will explore the history of Christmas celebrations, focusing on three distinct periods: Medieval and Tudor Christmases, Victorian Christmases, and Christmas in the last 50 years. Learners will find out more about the cultural, social, and religious influences that have shaped Christmas traditions over the centuries. We will have a comprehensive look using documents, films and contemporary sources at how Christmas traditions have evolved over time, influenced by religious, cultural, social, and economic changes.
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Course Information

Dates:
Thu 28/11/2024 -
Thu 12/12/2024
Times:
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Duration:
3 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Kate Antoniou
Course code:
Q00017452
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
7 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £22.20

History: Happy Christmas - celebrating the big day through the ages

Join us to find out more about how people celebrated the ‘big day’ in the past. This course will explore the history of Christmas celebrations, focusing on three distinct periods: Medieval and Tudor Christmases, Victorian Christmases, and Christmas in the last 50 years. Learners will find out more about the cultural, social, and religious influences that have shaped Christmas traditions over the centuries. We will have a comprehensive look using documents, films and contemporary sources at how Christmas traditions have evolved over time, influenced by religious, cultural, social, and economic changes.
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Course Information

Dates:
Thu 28/11/2024 -
Thu 12/12/2024
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
3 sessions
Location:
Caterham Baptist Church (Caterham)
4 Beechwood Road
Caterham
CR3 6NA
Tutor:
Kate Antoniou
Course code:
Q00018092
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £25.20

History: Daily Life in Ancient Egypt

From work, play, education, games, birth, death, love and punishment - this course will explore the evidence for the daily life of individuals and the elite in ancient Egypt. We will look at the map of the region and follow the Nile down. We will explore Egyptian chronology, urban life, temples and pictures depicting the religious life of the people.
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Course Information

Dates:
Fri 29/11/2024 -
Fri 29/11/2024
Times:
10:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
St Lawrence Parish Rooms (Winchester)
Colebrook Street
Winchester
SO23 9LH
Tutor:
John Billman
Course code:
Q00017610
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £25.20

Humanities: St Nicholas – who was he?

We all know that St Nicholas is the “real name” for Santa, but who was he, and how did he get associated with Christmas? We’ll take a look at the history of the Saint (and what else he was the saint of!), what other places he appears other than down your chimney, and various other characters who have been known to turn up and interact with small children in winter.
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Course Information

Dates:
Tue 03/12/2024 -
Tue 03/12/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Jane Williams
Course code:
Q00019854
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £7.40

History: The Egypt of Empire and Conquest - Ancient Egypt and Nubia

In a Study Day suitable for all we will consider how ancient Egypt treated a neighbour. Nubia is the area immediately to the south of ancient Egypt encompassing the south of Egypt today and much of modern Sudan. Nubia itself developed significant cultural entities especially the Kerma civilization and the later Napatan and Meroitic cultures. However much of the history of Nubia is inter-twined with ancient Egypt. The relationship between ancient Egypt and Nubia is a fascinating one and an ever-changing story. This day school explores the Nubian experience with Egypt from trade, through conquest, to the ‘Black Pharaohs’ of the Kushite period.
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Course Information

Dates:
Wed 04/12/2024 -
Wed 04/12/2024
Times:
10:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Woodley Hill House (Reading)
Woodley Hill House
45 Eastcourt Avenue
Reading
RG6 1HH
Tutor:
John Billman
Course code:
Q00017283
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
7 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £25.20

History: The Economic History of Wessex since 1500

Wessex has an intricate history concerned with natural resource development of minerals, transport, agriculture, towns, and manufacture. Its character has been forged by the impact on the landscape of openness to neighbouring areas of Britain, and to the World at large. The region contrasts with other regions in terms of both the nature and pace of development.
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Course Information

Dates:
Thu 05/12/2024 -
Thu 05/12/2024
Times:
10:30am - 3:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
St Lawrence Parish Rooms (Winchester)
Colebrook Street
Winchester
SO23 9LH
Tutor:
Hadrian Cook
Course code:
Q00017155
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £21.00