Why do some civilizations flourish while others fade? What legacies—good and bad—do conquerors leave behind? In Conquests and Cultures, economic historian Thomas Sowell takes readers across centuries of human history to reveal how conquest, conflict, and cultural exchange have molded the modern world.

In this five-week course, we’ll journey from the ancient world to the age of empires, exploring how ideas, technologies, and values spread—and how people adapted and endured through dramatic change. Sowell’s writing is clear, captivating and full of insight, challenging us to rethink our assumptions about history, culture, and progress.

This course promises lively debate, fresh perspectives, and a deeper appreciation for the resilience—and fragility—of human civilization.  Come ready to question, reflect, and rediscover how the story of conquest has affected all those civilizations.

We’ll be reading Conquests and Cultures by historian Thomas Sowell. Each week, we’ll explore one chapter together and share our thoughts and insights. You can dive into the entire book before our first class if you’d like, or read one chapter at a time before each class.  Preparation time should be about two hours per week.