This course draws from The Ever-Changing Past: Why All History is Revisionist History (Yale University Press, 2021). Like the book, the course explores the often-misunderstood realities-originating in ancient Greece-of revisionist history and, by extension, of all historical thinking. Grounded in the idea that historical knowledge-asserted, applied, debated, challenged, and memorialized-is a constant source of conflict because it shapes people’s sense of place, purpose, identity, and destiny, the course examines that premise through a historical lens.

It draws on examples ranging from the ancient classics to the transformative impact of Christianity, the American Civil War, the French Revolution, Marxist and feminist history, the atomic bombings of Japan, and the enduring debate over historical objectivity. Along the way, the course also addresses why historians regularly revise their views of the past, how they grapple with the challenges of objectivity, and why, despite disagreements, they remain confident in the discipline’s ability to move toward a clearer understanding of earlier times.

COURSE FORMAT
This is an interactive online seminar course that meets weekly over 6 weeks. Live online sessions will use the zoom platform. Weekly reading or other forms of materials may be assigned. Weekly sessions will be recorded and available for registered participants to access throughout the course.
There are no papers or grades. This course does not offer any credits or certificates. This course is intended for learning for the love of learning.


COURSE MATERIALS
The Ever-Changing Past: Why All History is Revisionist History (Yale University Press, 2021)
Registrants will receive access to the course website and the zoom links about two weeks before the course starts.

COURSE CANCELLATION POLICY
Registrants can cancel and receive a full refund up to May 23. After May 23, there will be no refunds issued.
Yale Alumni College courses are subject to schedule changes as well as cancellations. If Yale Alumni College must cancel any course prior to its start due to low enrollment, you will be notified of this by the cancellation date. Upon cancellation of a course, registrants may transfer their registration to another available course or have the registration fee fully refunded.

In the event of a disruption to the original course schedule, including but not limited to; Professor absence, hazardous weather conditions, or local travel restrictions, Yale Alumni College will do its best to reschedule the missed class for the week immediately following the original end date at the same course time and day.