• Course begins November 18, 2025

  • Live 90-minute sessions each week from 1:00 - 2:30pm Eastern U.S. time

  • All sessions are recorded so you can watch them at your convenience

Before Romanesque

We explore the art developments between the fall of Rome and the turn of the millennium. This includes an examination of the early Middle Ages Germanic tribes and early empires, the connections with the Muslim countries in the Mediterranean, and a thorough look at Byzantine art until the 15th century. The aim is to understand how diverse the world of art was before the standardization that rises from later centuries and the influences that fuel Romanesque and Gothic.

Romanesque

This week we investigate the context in which Romanesque develops in Europe with regard to the sociological and, most importantly, religious changes taking place at the turn of the millennium. This session will have a heavy emphasis on religious art, and its importance for the development of Europe, as well as the impact of the development of feudalism in warfare and architecture.

Gothic

In this session will investigate what transitions look like from the point of art – how do we go from Romanesque to Gothic? And to Renaissance? We will learn to appreciate and understand the fluidity of cultural movements over time, as well as the impact of new trades and social classes.

19th century Revivals and Medievalism

The final lecture will make use of the revival movements to illustrate the deep impact of medievalism in European culture and beyond. We will also learn key historiographical subjects within art and medievalism that have set many of our modern aesthetic standards and tastes. The session will wrap up previously developed concepts and ideas from an international viewpoint.

Meet your Instructor

Lillian Cespedes Gonzalez

Dr. Lillian Cespedes Gonzalez is a medievalist with a PhD from the University of Winchester, specializing in culture and identity within the subject of medievalism and popular culture. She is a cultural scholar and historian with an interdisciplinary and international approach. While her PhD focused on Norse women and their representation in popular culture, she has always had a keen interest in the way humans see the world: mythology, religion, art and literature are the things she enjoys most. Her academic publications include many works on the Norse, comic book studies and cultural identity. She is also an active blogger and podcaster and currently runs her own tour guiding and cultural education company as a public historian, where she gets to bring history to life every day for anyone who will listen.

  • Start Learning

    First live session is November 18, 2025 at 1:00pm Eastern U.S. time

  • Access

    Course materials are available for 30 days after the last course session.

What others say about Lillian

“I have been touring with Lillian for some time now. She covers a lot of very interesting topics and has helped me gain perspective of some that I found fascinating yet confusing. Very intelligent lady who is passionate about her subjects.”

Natasha

“I am so impressed by her breadth of knowledge and deep perspective on the various chapters of Spanish history, all very well explained in 45 minutes. A true gift for teaching others.”

Karen

Check out Lillian's Other Course!

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    $125.00The Normans in Europe

    Explore the development of the Normans in Normandy, England, and the Mediterranean and learn about their political and cultural achievements.
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