This seven-week Thursday hybrid study group begins March 12 and ends April 23. The first five sessions are from Simon Schama’s A History of Britain, BBC’s comprehensive account of Great Britain, tracing its development from 1500 (think Henry VIII), concluding with the death of Winston Churchill in 1965. These compelling ten hours, spanning 465 years, feature engaging narrative and insightful analysis, while also delving into cultural and artistic achievements.

The final two sessions, “The Dark Ages: An Age of Light,” is a documentary challenging the traditional view of the so-called “Dark Ages” as a period of cultural stagnation. Instead, our gregarious guide Waldemar Januszczak reveals it as a time of remarkable artistic and intellectual achievement that used the vibrant art, architecture, and innovations of early Christians, Byzantines, and Islamic civilizations to shape European history and the foundations of the modern world. It’s a high energy, enjoyable experience.