AoG Learning Tracks
1. Track: Climate & Sustainability
Explore how geography, ecosystems, climate, and human-environment interactions shaped societies — and what this teaches us for today's ecological crisis.
Recommended Classes & Videos:
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Class 03: The Environment as Home and Shaper of Economy
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Class 08: The Neolithic Age – Agriculture & Rivers
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Class 25: Great Challenges: Ending Poverty
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Class 26: Great Challenges: Saving the Environment
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Class 28: The World in 2050: Building the Future We Want
2. Track: Institutions & Global Cooperation
Trace the evolution of political and economic institutions from early empires to today’s multilateralism.
Recommended Classes & Videos:
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Class 05: Institutions and How We Live
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Class 13: The Emergence of Islam (legal and religious institutions)
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Class 14: The Holy Roman Empire
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Class 21: The New Multilateralism After WWII
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Class 22: The Post-Colonial World
3. Track: Technology & Innovation
Follow the evolution of technological advancements from stone tools to AI and explore their impact on society, economy, and culture.
Recommended Classes & Videos:
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Class 04: 2 Million Years of Technological Advancement
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Class 18: The Enlightenment and Western Technological Leadership
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Class 19: The Industrial Revolution
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Class 23: The Digital Age
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Class 27: The Future of Work, AI & Automation
4. Track: Globalization & Interdependence
Understand how human migration, trade, religion, and communication networks have linked the world — and how those links are reshaped today.
Recommended Classes & Videos:
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Class 02: The Seven Ages of Globalization
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Class 07: The Paleolithic Age (early migration)
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Class 10–13: Classical & Axial Ages (knowledge, religion, exchange)
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Class 17: Competition Among Empires (global trade and finance)
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Class 20: The Rise of the US to Global Predominance
5. Track: Peace, Ethics & Global Citizenship
Investigate ethical questions, peacebuilding, and leadership — past and future — including the role of young people in shaping global futures.
Recommended Classes & Videos:
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Class 06: Our Great Challenges Today
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Class 12: The Axial Age (philosophy, ethics, belief systems)
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Class 21: UN & the SDGs
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Class 24: Case Studies: Continuities & Change
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Class 28: The World in 2050
CLASS 01
Introduction to The Ages of Globalization
Introduction
8 billion of us living in an interconnected world
Interconnected in many crucial ways: trade, finance, tourism, technology, climate
Huge challenges facing us today, especially young people
Sustainable Development is our goal
History helps us to understand how to achieve our goals
Explore the Lesson Plan & Activities
CLASS 02
The Seven Ages of Globalization (see the Lesson Plan and Video Lectures)
Why seven ages?
The drivers of change: environment, technology, and institutions
From Homo Erectus to 8 billion of us
From hunting and gathering to urban life
Seven Ages: Paleolithic, Neolithic, Equestrian, Classical, Ocean, Industrial, Digital
CLASS 03
The Environment as Home and Shaper of Economy (see the Lesson Plan and Video Lectures)
Climate zones and economy
Topography
River systems
Trade Routes
Disease patterns and environment
CLASS 04
2 Million Years of Technological Advancement (see the Lesson Plan and Video Lectures)
Types of technology
Technological change
Innovation through all seven ages
Empire: Infrastructure
Ocean Age and Industrialization
Digital
CLASS 05
Human beings as “social animals”
Politics
Property and Economy
Religion, Culture, Ethics
International Relations
CLASS 06
8 billion people on a crowded planet
Poverty in the midst of plenty
A deeply unequal & divided world
The complexities of modern life
Finding Peace & Cooperation in a deeply divided world
CLASS 07
The Paleolithic Age: 70,000 – 10,000 BCE (see the Lesson Plan and Video Lectures)
The Cradle of Humankind – Kenya National Museum – Kenya
Olorgesailie Prehistoric Site – Kenya
CLASS 08
The Neolithic Age – The Birth of Agriculture: 10,000 – 3,000 BCE (see the Lesson Plan and Video Lectures)
The Amazon – Brazil
The Nile – Egypt
The Grand Canal – China
The Ganges – India
CLASS 09
The Equestrian Age: 3,000 – 1,000 BCE (see the Lesson Plan and Video Lectures)
The Ancient Steppes – Uzbekistan
Hegra – Saudi Arabia
Jabal Ikmah – Saudi Arabia
Spanish Riding School – Austria
CLASS 10
The Classical Age – West: 1,000 BCE – 1,500 CE (see the Lesson Plan and Video Lectures)
The Golden Age of Athens – Greece
The Macedonians, Alexander the Great at Mieza – Greece (Part I)
The Macedonians, Alexander the Great the King – Greece (Part II)
The Roman Forum – Italy
The Colosseum – Italy
CLASS 11
The Classical Age – East: 1,000 – 1,500 CE (see the Lesson Plan and Video Lectures)
Byzantium – Sultan Ahmed – Turkey
Byzantium – Hagia Sophia & The Blue Mosque – Turkey
The Mongols – The Registan – Uzbekistan
The Great Wall of China – China (Part I)
The Great Wall of China – China (Part II)
The Great Wall of China – China (Part III)
CLASS 12
The Axial Age of East and West: 800 – 300 BCE (see the Lesson Plan and Video Lectures)
Confucianism – Temple of Confucius – China
The Philosophers – The Athens Academy – Greece
Hinduism – Vishnu Temple – India
Buddhism – Sarnath – India
CLASS 13
The Emergence of Islam: 620 CE
Muhammad – Saudi Arabia
The City of the Dead – Egypt
Ismail Samani Mausoleum – Uzbekistan
The Umayyad Empire – Spain
Averroes – Spain
CLASS 14
The Holy Roman Empire: 800 – 1806 CE
Prague Castle – Czech Republic
Hofburg Castle – Austria
Palacio Real – Spain
CLASS 15
The Birth of Global Empires
The Escorial – Spain (Part I)
The Escorial – Spain (Part II)
The Chapel of Santa Maria Antigua - Spain
Palacio Rio Branco – Brazil (Part I)
Palacio Rio Branco – Brazil (Part II)
The Imperial Palace – Brazil (Part III)
CLASS 16
The Religious Wars of Europe
Introduction
The Great Schism - Turkey
Jan Hus – Czech Republic
Prince Edward of Savoy – Austria
The Melk Abbey – Austria
Fishermans Bastion – Hungary
CLASS 17
Competition Among European Empires
Introduction
London – England
Blenheim Palace – England
Bank of England – England
Versailles – France (Part I)
Versailles – France (Part II)
Versailles – France (Part III)
Hofburg Palace – Austria
The Hungarian Parliament & The Danube – Hungary
CLASS 18
The Age of Enlightenment and Western Technological Leadership
Introduction
The Forbidden City – China
The Imperial Palace – Japan
The Bodlieian Library – England
The Klementinum – Czech Republic
Maria Theresa & Franz Joseph – Austria
The French Revolution – France
The Age of Enlightenment – France
CLASS 19
The Industrial Revolution
Introduction
Trafalgar Square – England
The Textile Workshop of Varanasi – India
Imperial Palace of Tokyo – Japan
USA
CLASS 20
The Rise of the US to Global Predominance
Introduction
US – Pennsylvania – Philadelphia – Constitution Hall
US – New York – NYC – Port – Wall Street – Central Park – Midtown
US – Washington DC – Seat off Power – Slave Market
CLASS 21
The New Multilateralism World after World War II
Introduction
US – NYC – United Nations
US – NYC – UN Charter, Universal Declaration of Human Rights
US – NYC – UN – SDGs
CLASS 22
The Post-Colonial World: Post-1950
Introduction
Century of Humiliation – China
End of Colonial Rule – India
Africa’s New Independence – Kenya
Crossroads of the East-West, North-South – Turkey
Multi-Cultural – Brazil
CLASS 23
The Digital Age
Introduction
Japan – Tokyo
US – New York
India – Delhi
Kenya – Nairobi
Brazil – Rio de Janeiro
CLASS 24
Continuities and Change Across the Ages: Four Case Studies
Introduction
From Savanna to Metropolis – Nairobi, Kenya
From Celts to Modernity – Andalusia, Spain
From Indigenous Arrivals to Today – Belem, Brazil
Mother Ganga to the present – Varanassi, India
CLASS 25
Great Challenges: Ending Poverty
Introduction
Masai Village – Extreme Poverty – Kenya
Nairobi - Urban Poverty and Development – Kenya
Ending Poverty in 40 Years – China
Rapid Catching Up – India
Frontier and Sustainability – Brazil
CLASS 26
Great Challenges: Saving the Environment
Introduction
African Savannah – Kenya
The Great Rainforests – Brazil
Urban Pollution – India
Climate Change – Italy
CLASS 27
The Future of Work, Technology, Living Patterns, and Politics
Demographic Change
Automation, Artificial Intelligence
Two Paths: Utopia or Dystopia
Urban Life: Time Allocation
Care economy