The History of 2026

Catalog description

How can we understand the events, ideas, and conflicts that have featured in the news cycle during the past year? "The History of 2026" offers historically informed reflections on this year's momentous events, providing an opportunity to understand our world in its historic context. Each week will feature a different History faculty member speaking on a major news topic of the year, showing what we can learn by approaching it from a historical perspective. The course is open to all students (newcomers and history veterans alike) who want to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of 2026, and who are curious to consider how studying history can offer a deeper and richer understanding of tumultuous times.