History of Sicily (Lecture)




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Sicily has been a mythic crossroads of heroes, conquerors, and culture for over 3,000 years. From Odysseus and the Arabo-Norman Golden Age to the Mafia and modern mythmakers like Garibaldi and Coppola, Sicily’s story is rich, complex, and central to Western history. This course explores its pivotal role in shaping civilization—and why Goethe famously said, “To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all.”
 
Your instructor: Douglas Kenning, PhD
Douglas Kenning, PhD (University of Edinburgh), is a writer, lecturer, and former professor of literature and history. He has taught in the U.S., Tunisia, Japan, and Italy. Now based in the San Francisco Bay Area and Sicily, he offers dynamic lectures on Mediterranean civilizations and leads small-group tours exploring history, myth, and culture.

After January 5, all who registered for an Osher Online course will receive an email invitation from Osher Online for the Member Orientation scheduled for Wednesday, January 7 at 11am PT/ Noon MT/ 1pm CT/ 2pm ET.

Class schedule: Live lectures will take place on Mondays via ZOOM 
Monday, January 26
Monday, February 2
Monday, February 9
Monday, February 16
Monday, February 23
Monday, March 2

Class Details

6 Session(s)
Weekly - Mon

Location
Virtual - Any Location

Instructor
Osher Online 

Tuition: 

$70.00


Email olli@northwestern.edu for more information. Send to Friend »

Schedule Information

Date(s) Class Days Times Location Instructor(s)
1/26/2026 - 3/2/2026 Weekly - Mon 12:00 PM - 01:30 PM N/A, Virtual - Any Location  Map Osher Online 

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