Coursera

Introduction to Archaeology: Knowing The Past (Coursera)

Offered by Rice University,

This course is an introduction to a series on the discipline of Archaeology. It is intended for learners at all stages, including advanced high school, college students, or life-long learners. Basic information about Archaeology and its history are presented in this course, while the following three courses cover scientific methods, forms of interpretation, and contemporary social issues that archaeologists engage with.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

This course is part of the Introduction to Archaeology Specialization.

Syllabus

Introduction to Knowing The Past
Welcome to Introduction to Knowing The Past! Learn from experienced archaeologists about the science behind archaeological research and the tools used to interpret the past. Discover how archaeology contributes to our understanding of the world today. By the end of the course, you'll have a solid foundation in the principles of archaeology. Join us on this exciting journey through the fascinating world of archaeology!

Background Information About The Discipline of Archaeology
Hey there! Are you curious about how we learn about the past? In this course, you'll meet archaeologists from all over the world and learn how they use scientific techniques to help us draw conclusions about what life was like for people in the past. We will also Learn about Archaeology's role in Anthropology, past approaches, and more. Come join us on this exciting journey!

Coursera Series Overview
Welcome to Knowing the Past, Rice University's the Overview! In this module, we'll provide important general background information on archaeology and help you get set up for success as you move through the following three courses. These courses cover Archaeology as Science, Archaeology as Reconstruction of the Past, and Archaeology as Activism. While we recommend taking them in order, you have the option to take them individually. By the end of the series, you'll have a comprehensive overview of what archaeology is today, and we'll provide you with resources to help you navigate the rest of the series. Let's get started!

The Final Dig
Hello there! The Final Dig is the last module of each course, where you get to put all of your skills and knowledge into practice. It includes a discussion, a final assessment, a graded Peer Review self-evaluation, and a closing video. It's a moment of truth and an excellent opportunity to showcase your learning. You've done a fantastic job so far, and I'm sure you'll do great on the Final Dig!

Go to Class

MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Coursera

The Museum of Modern Art

Seeing Through Photographs (Coursera)

Film & Audio

Although taking, sharing, and viewing photographs has become second nature for many of us, our regular engagement with images does not necessarily make us visually literate. This course aims to address the gap between seeing and truly understanding photographs by introducing a diversity of ideas, approaches, and technologies that inform their making. In this course you will look closely at 100 photographs from the collection of The Museum of Modern Art, going behind the scenes of the Museum and into artist studios through original films and audio interviews.

Oct 19th 2026

5-12 Weeks

Image History Photography

Coursera

Wesleyan University

The Ancient Greeks (Coursera)

Humanities History

This is a survey of ancient Greek history from the Bronze Age to the death of Socrates in 399 BCE. Along with studying the most important events and personalities, we will consider broader issues such as political and cultural values and methods of historical interpretation.

Oct 19th 2026

5-12 Weeks

History Greeks Greece

Coursera

Tel Aviv University

The Emergence of the Modern Middle East - Part I (Coursera)

Humanities History

This course will review the emergence of the modern Middle East from the fall of the Ottoman Empire, at the end of the First World War to the present. We will discuss the Ottoman legacy in the region and the Western imperial impact on the creation of the Arab state system. The course will review the rise and retreat of Arab nationalism, the problems of internal cohesion of the Arab states, issues of religion and state, and the evolution of Islamist politics. We will also focus on the evolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict and its impact on the region and will conclude with an in depth analysis of the “Arab Spring” by placing these contemporary revolutionary events in their historical context.

Oct 19th 2026

4 Weeks

History Modernity Empire

Coursera

The University of Tokyo

Words Spun Out of Images: Visual and Literary Culture in Nineteenth Century Japan (Coursera)

Film & Audio

In their ambition to capture “real life,” Japanese painters, poets, novelists and photographers of the nineteenth century collaborated in ways seldom explored by their European contemporaries. This course offers learners the chance to encounter and appreciate behavior, moral standards and some of the material conditions surrounding Japanese artists in the nineteenth century, in order to renew our assumptions about what artistic “realism” is and what it meant.

Nov 2nd 2026

4 Weeks

History Art Art History

Coursera

Yeshiva University

Arch of Titus: Rome and the Menorah (Coursera)

Humanities

The Arch of Titus: Rome and the Menorah explores one of the most significant Roman monuments to survive from antiquity, from the perspectives of Roman, Jewish and later Christian history and art. The Arch of Titus commemorates the destruction of Jerusalem by the emperor Titus in 70 CE, an event of pivotal importance for the history of the Roman Empire, of Judaism, of Christianity and of modern nationalism. Together with your guide, Professor Steven Fine, you will examine ancient texts and artifacts, gaining skills as a historian as you explore the continuing significance of the Arch of Titus from antiquity to the very present.

Oct 26th 2026

5-12 Weeks

History Roman Empire Rome

Coursera

Sapienza University of Rome

Recovering the Humankind's Past and Saving the Universal Heritage (Coursera)

Humanities History

Archaeology has as its objective the recovery and revival of humankind past, and as its aim the rescue and preservation of cultural heritage. Archaeology is, among human sciences, the discipline with the strongest importance for the rediscovery, but also for the preservation and protection of cultural heritage, as Humankind’s universal patrimony. You will be introduced to the way we ourselves reflect on and are engaged with the study of human past: from the practical and material recovery of ancient traces in the field to the study and interpretation. On the other hand, the discovery of human past implies the correct conservation and presentation for both experts and general public: the study and protection of the past we share every day prevent from any possible destruction, misuse, abuse and thus cancellation of human memory.

Oct 19th 2026

5-12 Weeks

History 3D Archaeology

Coursera

Curtis Institute of Music

Exploring Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas Part 2 (Coursera)

Humanities

Welcome to Part 2 of Exploring Beethoven's Piano Sonatas! I'm delighted to launch another set of new lectures of this course as Part 2. As before, this class is meant for people of all levels of experience with Beethoven's music (including no experience at all!). Remember that you are able to watch the lectures as many times as you like, at whatever pace is comfortable for you.

Nov 2nd 2026

5-12 Weeks

History Music Beethoven

Coursera

Tel Aviv University

The Emergence of the Modern Middle East - Part II (Coursera)

Humanities History

This course will discuss the developments in the Middle East from the early 20th century to the present. It will discuss the rise and retreat of Arab nationalism, the problems of internal cohesion of the Arab states, issues of religion and state, and the evolution of Islamist politics. It will also focus on the evolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict and its impact on the region and will conclude with an in depth analysis of the “Arab Spring” by placing these contemporary revolutionary events in their historical context.

Nov 2nd 2026

5-12 Weeks

History Conflict Contemporary

Coursera

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

El Valle de los Reyes (Coursera)

Architecture & Design

Este curso va dirigido a todos los amantes de la historia y arqueología, en general, y de manera particular a todos los interesados en egiptología, independientemente de su nivel de conocimiento inicial. El Valle de los Reyes constituye uno de los yacimientos arqueológicos más importantes de Egipto y su estudio, desde diferentes enfoques, resulta muy atractivo para cualquier aficionado o profesional de la egiptología. Con este curso nos proponemos conocer su historia y evolución a lo largo de las dinastías XVIII-XX del Reino Nuevo egipcio, desde su origen hasta su abandono y desmantelamiento.

Oct 26th 2026

5-12 Weeks

History Archaeological Study Ancient Egypt

Coursera

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - HKUST

Understanding China, 1700-2000: A Data Analytic Approach, Part 2 (Coursera)

Statistics & Data Analysis Data Science

The purpose of this course is to summarize new directions in Chinese history and social science produced by the creation and analysis of big historical datasets based on newly opened Chinese archival holdings, and to organize this knowledge in a framework that encourages learning about China in comparative perspective. Our course demonstrates how a new scholarship of discovery is redefining what is singular about modern China and modern Chinese history.

Oct 26th 2026

4 Weeks

History China Data Science

Coursera

University of London,Royal Holloway, University of London

Film, Images & Historical Interpretation in the 20th Century: The Camera Never Lies (Coursera)

Humanities

This course is a short taster on the topic of the use of Images, Film, and their use in historical interpretation in the 20th century. It is primarily provided for those who have a general interest in history that draws on photojournalism as primary evidence, and films based on historical events.

Nov 2nd 2026

5-12 Weeks

Image History Film

Coursera

University of London

Applied Public History: Places, People, Stories (Coursera)

History

This course introduces learners to applied public history: understanding and interpreting the past today, and engaging diverse communities in the practice of making and sharing histories. The course draws on project case studies, expert insights and diverse perspectives to model exciting approaches to researching and sharing the history of places and people. Learners will develop a toolkit to apply in their own practice, by participating in discussion, quizzes, creative activities and mini masterclasses. What kinds of stories can we discover through research into the history of places and people?

Nov 2nd 2026

5-12 Weeks

History Art Communication