Adam Beaton

Follow Alexander’s epic journey from a young Macedonian prince to history’s most legendary conqueror, examining his battles, ambitions, and the empire that reshaped the ancient world." This dynamic eight-session course brings to life the extraordinary story of Alexander the Great, the brilliant, ruthless, and visionary conqueror who forged an empire spanning three continents. Through lively lectures and vivid visuals (maps, artifacts, and battle simulations), combined with thought-provoking discussions, we’ll explore his meteoric rise from prince to global icon. By the end, you’ll understand why Alexander’s name still echoes 2,300 years after his death. Session 1: Introduction & Macedonia Before Alexander Session 2: The Beginning of Alexander’s Reign Session 3: The Invasion of Persia Session 4: Key Battles – Issus & Gaugamela Session 5: Egypt & the Oracle at Siwa Session 6: The Heart of Persia & the Death of Darius Session 7: The Indian Campaign & Mutiny Session 8: Death & Legacy of Alexander the Great [show less]

This course explores Aeschylus and his Oresteia trilogy of plays in depth, examining its themes, dramatic techniques, and historical context, while also introducing SPACE students to the origins and performance practices of Ancient Greek tragedy. This eight-session course offers an engaging exploration of Aeschylus’ Oresteia—the groundbreaking trilogy that reshaped Ancient Greek tragedy. Through dynamic discussions, close readings, and visual aids, we’ll unpack Aeschylus' plays (Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides) examining their brutal conflicts, moral dilemmas, and ultimate vision of justice. Along the way, we’ll investigate Greek tragedy’s origins, Aeschylus’ revolutionary innovations, and how these ancient dramas still resonate today. No prior knowledge or homework required—just a willingness to debate fate, fury, and the first courtroom drama in Western literature! Session 1: The Origins of Greek Tragedy Session 2: Performance and Dramatic Techniques in Greek Tragedy Session 3: Aeschylus, The Father of Tragedy Session 4: Agamemnon – Blood, Betrayal, and the House of Atreus Session 5: The Libation Bearers – The Cycle of Revenge Session 6: The Eumenides – Blood Feuds to Civic Justice Session 7: The Oresteia as a Unified Trilogy Session 8: Greek Tragedy’s Influence and Modern Adaptations [show less]

Throughout Christian history, the Gospel of Mark has been the most overlooked and misunderstood of the four canonical gospels within Christianity. Many assume it to be not much more than a condensed, bare-bones summary of the gospels of Matthew or Luke. This is a serious mistake. Mark's narrative is a genuine literary achievement that rewards careful scrutiny. This series of lectures is dedicated to demonstrating exactly why that is the case. The irony is sharp: Mark depicts a messiah no one around him could understand or recognize, yet readers today often miss the clues embedded right in the text. Over eight lectures, we will dissect the sophisticated and often subtle architecture of this Gospel, bringing to light its rich layers and its provocative thesis: that Jesus embodied a kind of messiah radically different from any prevailing expectation. Additionally, because the preceptor approaches this text outside the Christian faith tradition, this external perspective allows us to engage with Mark’s narrative not as a matter of doctrine or devotional practice, but as a piece of ancient literature with a unique, unsettling, and enduringly powerful message. Lecture 1: The Gospel's Opening Lecture 2: The Enigmatic Messiah of Mark Lecture 3: Jesus’s Proclamation and Parables Lecture 4: The Misunderstood, Suffering Savior Lecture 5: Curiosities in Mark’s Passion Account Lecture 6: The Eloquent Silence of Mark’s Ending Lecture 7: Puzzles in the Manuscript Tradition Lecture 8: Investigating Mark’s Author and the Purpose of Writing the Gospel [show less]

This module traces how the great myths of Greece and Rome, tales of transformation, underworld journeys, and heroic quests. have been reimagined by modern fantasy writers including J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Ursula K. Le Guin, asking how the classics influenced them and why these ancient stories still speak to us today. Session 1 – The Mythic Toolkit: What Is a Classical Myth? Session 2 – The Art of Transformation: Ovid’s Metamorphoses and Tolkien’s Beren and Lúthien Session 3 – The Ring of Gyges and the One Ring: Plato’s Thought Experiment Session 4 – Descent into Darkness: The Underworld Journey from Homer to Aragorn Session 5 – C.S. Lewis and the Myth of Cupid and Psyche Session 6 – The Hero’s Body: Achilles, Túrin, and the Tragic Flaw Session 7 – Reimagining the Aeneid: Ursula K. Le Guin’s Lavinia Session 8 – Why Myths Never Die: Madeline Miller's Circe and the Video Game Hades [show less]

Plato's Republic is arguably one of the most influential books ever written about Western political philsophy. This module offers an exploration of the Republic, examining its key themes such as Justice, the Ideal State, the Theory of Forms, and the Philosopher-King to name a few. Together, we will engage with the text's philosophical arguments and controversies while tying their relevance to contemporary society. Class One: Introduction to The Republic and the Greek World Class Two: Book I - The Debate on Justice: Socrates vs Thrasymachus Class Three: Books II & III - Education and the Ideal State Class Four: Books IV & V - Justice in the Soul and Society Class Five: Books VI & VII - The Philosopher-King and the Form of the Good Class Six: Books VIII & IX - The Mistaken Regimes and Socrates' Critique of Democracy Class Seven: Book X - Art, Poetry, and the Myth or Er Class Eight: Summary, Overview, and the Legacy of Plato's Republic [show less]

How did a small, persecuted Jewish sect from a remote province transform the greatest empire the world had ever known? The Roman Empire's conversion to Christianity is one of history’s most influential moments that reshaped the very soul of the West. This eight-lecture journey traces the often turbulent process that turned a pagan empire into the foundation of medieval Europe. We’ll move beyond simple tales of conversion to explore a gripping story of clashing worldviews, political opportunism, spiritual fervor, and astonishing adaptability. Session 1 - A World of Many Gods: Pagan Rome Meets a Jewish Sect Session 2 - The Offensive Faith: Why Christianity Was Different Session 3 - Seeds in the Cracks: Growth and Adaptation in the Second and Third Centuries Session 4 - The Imperial Convert: Constantine and the Cross of Victory Session 5 - From Faith in Caesar to Caesar's Faith: The Christian Empire Takes Shape Session 6 - City of God vs. City of Man: Collapse and Reinvention Session 7 - The Christian Landscape: Rites, Rivalries, and the Erasure of Paganism Session 8 - The Imperial Church: Justinian's Dream and the Legacy of a Baptized Rome [show less]

This module traces the greatest war story ever told, the Trojan War, from its Classical origins in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, through medieval romances and Virgil's Aeneid/i>, all the way to Tolkien's legendarium. Along the way, we will see how Tolkien’s fallen cities, doomed heroes, and wandering exiles echo the ancient conflict: from Achilles’ rage to Túrin Turambar’s curse, from the sack of Troy to the fall of Gondolin, from Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde to Beren and Lúthien, and from Odysseus’s long journey home to the voyage of Eärendil and Aragorn as the new Aeneas. We will end on a final reflection: Why do we keep telling stories about the destruction of great cities? Session 1 – The Greatest War Ever Told: Introducing the Trojan Cycle Session 2 – Heroes and Rage: Homer's Iliad and Tolkien's Doomed Warriors Session 3 – The Fall of the City: The Sack of Troy and the Fall of Gondolin Session 4 – The Women of Troy: Grief and Resistance in Euripides and Tolkien Session 5 – The Long Road Home: Homer's Odyssey and the Voyage of Eärendil Session 6 – Medieval Troy: Chaucer, the Romance Tradition, and Beren and Lúthien Session 7 – Virgil's Aeneid and Tolkien's Founding Heroes: Elros and Aragorn Session 8 – Why the Trojan War Never Ends: From Ancient Epic to Tolkien's Legendarium [show less]