Shipwrecks and Submerged Worlds: Maritime Archaeology (FutureLearn)

Shipwrecks and Submerged Worlds: Maritime Archaeology (FutureLearn)

Learn how maritime archaeology investigates our changing relationship with the world’s oceans and seas, from 2.5 million years ago until today. People have explored and depended on the oceans of our planet for millennia. During that time the geography of our world has changed radically as coastal regions have flooded and islands have risen up, or been lost beneath the waves. With 70% of the world’s surface covered by water, an unparalleled, yet largely untouched record of human life has been left beneath the sea for us to discover, from our earliest ancestors right through to present day.

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

Over the length of this ‘Shipwrecks and Submerged Worlds’ course we will learn about maritime archaeology together - exploring underwater landscapes from the ancient Mediterranean to the prehistoric North Sea, and consider Shipwrecks from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific coast of the Americas.
We will introduce you to the pioneers of the discipline and explain what maritime archaeology is and why it is relevant today. We’ll also explore the technologies used to investigate these challenging environments and the new horizons that are opening to us daily. Finally, we’ll help show you ways in which you can become further involved in the exciting world of maritime archaeology.
The Centre for Maritime Archaeology is one of the world’s leading maritime research centres. Its strength lies in the breadth and depth of knowledge held by its staff, its variety of active projects across the globe and the energy and enthusiasm of its students. As you will learn through this course, maritime archaeology is a highly demanding field, drawing on marine geophysics, archaeology, history, environmental science and advanced computing techniques. We hope that the diverse expertise of our team can truly do justice to the potential of this topic to transform our understanding of human society in the past, present and potentially the future.

What topics will you cover?

  • Introduction to Maritime Archaeology
  • Shipwrecks and Seafaring
  • Understanding the Sea
  • Doing Maritime Archaeology
Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Archaeology: from Dig to Lab and Beyond (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Reading

Archaeology: from Dig to Lab and Beyond (FutureLearn)

Get an introduction to studying archaeology, exploring exciting discoveries in the Vale of Pewsey, near to Stonehenge and Avebury. Chart the progress of an archaeological excavation from dig to lab and beyond. We’ll show you around our field school at the Vale of Pewsey, a relatively untouched site compared to its famous neighbour, Stonehenge.

Self Paced
2 Weeks
Challenges in Antibiotic Resistance: Gram Negative Bacteria (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy - BSAC

Challenges in Antibiotic Resistance: Gram Negative Bacteria (FutureLearn)

This course by BSAC is for healthcare professionals managing infections. You will learn about Gram Negative Bacteria. Identify, diagnose and treat gram negative bacterial infections. Gram negative bacteria (GNB) are a group of bacteria that can cause infection and toxic reaction in patients, yet are difficult to differentiate and treat with antibiotics due to their structure.

Self Paced
3 Weeks
Marine Biology (Coursera) Coursera
American Museum of Natural History

Marine Biology (Coursera)

This course is about life in the oceans, from the sunlit surface to the inky depths, from microscopic phytoplankton to the great blue whale. The ocean is among the world’s most inhospitable environments for scientific research, which is why we know as much about the surface of the moon as we do the bottom of the sea. This course uncovers the evolutionary history of marine organisms, adaptations to life in water, the behavior and functional morphology of sea animals, interactions between species, and current threats.

Aug 31st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Health and Wellbeing in the Ancient World (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
The Open University

Health and Wellbeing in the Ancient World (FutureLearn)

Use literary and archaeological evidence to see how ancient Greeks and Romans approached health, well-being and societal issues. What did being healthy in ancient Rome or Greece look like? How can we tell what well-being meant in ancient times? This online course will help you investigate these questions, using both literary and archaeological evidence, to uncover details of real life in ancient societies.

Self Paced
5-12 Weeks
The Tudors (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Roehampton

The Tudors (FutureLearn)

Go back in time to learn about the dramatic rule of the Tudor monarchs and religious change of the sixteenth century reformation. Uncover the turbulent history of Tudor England and its lasting impact. From magnificence and martyrs to weddings and war, the Tudor period was one of the most eventful in British history. The reigns of the five (or was it six?) monarchs during the late fifteenth to seventeenth century has enthralled historians, students and television and film producers alike.

Self Paced
5-12 Weeks
Inside Cancer: How Genes Influence Cancer Development (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Bath

Inside Cancer: How Genes Influence Cancer Development (FutureLearn)

Understand how genetics influence the development and spread of cancer, with this free, introductory online course. What is the one thing that all cancers have in common? They begin as mutant or rebel cells! In this course we will explore how changes in cancer genetics and epigenetics enables these cells to grow uncontrollably, by exploiting our blood vessels and immune system along with other systemic changes.

Self Paced
4 Weeks
Early Modern Scottish Palaeography: Reading Scotland's Records (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Glasgow

Early Modern Scottish Palaeography: Reading Scotland's Records (FutureLearn)

Travel back in time through Scottish history by examining early modern Scottish handwriting. Explore Scottish history and learn more about using historical sources. Palaeography is the study of ancient handwriting and a vital skill in the historian’s toolkit. It is essential when conducting research on early modern Scotland – a period of profound political, religious and social change the effects of which can still be felt today.

Self Paced
3 Weeks
Exploring Anatomy: The Human Abdomen (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Leeds

Exploring Anatomy: The Human Abdomen (FutureLearn)

Explore the anatomy of the human abdomen and appreciate its clinical importance. You will be introduced to the human abdomen and its many complex structures through stimulating discussions on common surgical scenarios and current research. Each week, we will focus on a specific area of the abdomen; starting at the anterior abdominal wall and be able to detail the anatomy of numerous organs including the stomach and liver.

Self Paced
3 Weeks
Genealogy: Researching Your Family Tree (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Strathclyde

Genealogy: Researching Your Family Tree (FutureLearn)

Dive into your family ancestry and learn how to create a family tree on this online genealogy course. Discover the basics of genealogy and build your own family tree. Have you ever wondered about your family ancestry or wanted to create a family tree of your own? On this 6-week genealogy course for beginners, you’ll learn how to uncover the past and record your family history. The information on this course does not apply to just one country, so you can learn about your family lineage no matter where you’re from.

Self Paced
5-12 Weeks
Irish 102: An Introduction to Irish Language and Culture (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Dublin City University

Irish 102: An Introduction to Irish Language and Culture (FutureLearn)

Find out how to speak, write and understand basic words, phrases and dialogues in Irish. Develop your knowledge of the basics of the Irish language. Ireland is home to one of the oldest living languages in Europe. On this course, you’ll improve your understanding of basic spoken words, phrases and dialogues in Irish.

Self Paced
4 Weeks
World War 1: Trauma, Memory, Controversy (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
The Open University

World War 1: Trauma, Memory, Controversy (FutureLearn)

Explore the traumatic effects of WW1 on soldiers and civilians. Discover how we remember and debate the history of this war. In this free online course, you will study the social, cultural, medical and diplomatic history of the First World War. Topics range from physical and mental trauma suffered by combatants to the traumatic experiences of civilians in wartime.

Self Paced
4 Weeks