IN PERSON: In this lecture-style course, we study the evolution of Homo sapiens in Africa, and their subsequent migrations that populated the major continents of our planet. The course was inspired by the first several chapters of Yuval Noah Harari's recent book "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind." We cover the following topics: 1) Evolution and Its Mechanisms, 2) Early Hominins, 3) Evolution of Homo Sapiens, 4) Early Out of Africa — A Failed Expansion?, 5) Migrations Across Southern Asia, 6) Migrations to the Americas, 7) Migrations to Europe, and 8) The Lives of Hunter-Gatherers. Students will gain a better understanding of and appreciation for the early history of our species. | Lecture + Q&A.
Max enrollment: 30.
Location: Judea Reform Congregation, 1933 W. Cornwallis Rd, Durham NC 27705
Rob Bauernfeind is a retired cardiologist, with lifelong interests in both biology and history. Rob has taught previous OLLI courses about the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Turkey.