Archaeology, History, Art History - Keep Scrolling Down!


Genealogy - click here to view Genealogy classes.


Archaeology of Meso America


The Rise of Civilization in Meso America ~ the Teotihuacan, Mayans, Toltecs, Aztecs
This course follows the people of Teotihuacan, the Mayans, the Toltec, and the Aztecs from their beginnings to the formation of their cities, states and empires. They spoke different languages, but produced the same wonderful art, played the same ballgame, established extensive trade routes, built monumental cultural centers, practiced human sacrifice, and had similar pantheons of gods. The builders of these civilizations were an artistic, passionate, fierce people, who will fire your imagination. Instructor Lynn-Marie Wieland is a lithic (stone tools) archaeologist specializing in southern New England prehistory with an emphasis on the Indians of the Ridgefield area. She minored in Meso American Archaeology and has traveled extensively in Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras.

3 Sessions $ 77 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 65)
Wed., 3/11, 18, 25 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Annex (66 prospect Street) + Zoom (hybrid)


Practical Buddhism


Practical Buddhism and the Search for Self
This course explores practical Buddhism as a path to self-discovery and inner peace. We will examine core Buddhist history concepts like mindfulness, impermanence, and compassion, and apply them to daily life. Through discussion on the myths of a happy life, you will learn to understand the human interconnection with the environment, practice cultivating self-awareness, and navigate the challenges of modern life with greater wisdom and kindness. Many concepts are found in the Buddhist bestseller, The Buddha in Your Mirror - Practical Buddhism and the Search for Self by Woody Hochswender, Gred Martin, and Ted Morino (Middleway Press, 2001). Instructor Charles J Greenberg is an experienced academic librarian with long-term appointments at both Columbia and Yale Universities. He was the founding Library Director of Wenzhou-Kean University in Wenzhou, China from December 2013 to June 2019. He then joined the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine as Health Sciences Library Director from January 2020 to November 2023. He currently is a lecturer at Camden County College, teaching English Composition, as well as a lecturer for the School of Information for San Jose State University, where he has taught online medical and health sciences information topics since 2007.

For dates - click Meditation.


European History


The Versailles Settlement
When the armistice of November 1918 ended the hostilities of World War I, the peacemakers faced enormous challenges.  The war had irrevocably changed the geopolitical face of Europe; there were cries for revenge and retribution; and a delicate new balance of power had to be established.   What were the primary goals of “the big 3” - Georges Clemenceau, Lloyd George, and Woodrow Wilson?   An overview of the issues, factors, and personalities at work in the drafting of the treaties helps us understand the decisions and sheds light on the ensuing events. Instructor: Nancy Maxwell (scroll down for bio).

1 Session $29 (Ridgefield Seniors and Disabled pay $25)
Fri., 3/27 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Zoom.


World War II Series - from the Interwar Period to the Aftermath in Europe


4 Sessions = All 3 Classes Below

4 Sessions $79 (Ridgefield Seniors and Disabled pay $68)
Fri., 4/17, 24; 5/1, 15 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Zoom.

or Purchase separately.


The Interwar Period
Depression, upheaval, appeasement, and the rise of fascism and communism characterized this era. Instructor: Nancy Maxwell (scroll down for bio).

1 Session $29 (Ridgefield Seniors and Disabled pay $25)
Fri., 4/17 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Zoom.


World War II
It can be hard to believe that only twenty years after the horrors and devastation of World War I, and the lessons learned from it, the world went to war again.  Did the terms of the Treaty of Versailles indeed provoke this, or is there more to the story?  What was the appeasement policy of the 1930’s? An examination of these events as well as the stages, operations, and theaters of the war will help us understand how the very alliance that secured victory over the Axis powers evolved into the deadly arms race and threats of the ensuing Cold War. 

Instructor: Nancy Maxwell (scroll down for bio).

2 Sessions $41 (Ridgefield Seniors and Disabled pay $35)
Fri., 4/24 and 5/1 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Zoom.


The Aftermath of World War II
Discussion topics include the Divided Germany, Soviet seizure of territories, and the Iron Curtain. Instructor: Nancy Maxwell (scroll down for bio).

1 Session $29 (Ridgefield Seniors and Disabled pay $25)
Fri., 5/15 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Zoom.



Nancy Maxwell - Instructor Bio:

As a student at Cornell, Ms. Maxwell was encouraged to major in Psychology, but her interest in the humanities was always paramount, and her reading of History has taken pride of place.

As a teacher and counselor in an international school in Switzerland for more than twenty years, she had the opportunity to familiarize herself with the palaces and cathedrals of European cities, to savor the extraordinary wealth of artistic treasure that they contain, and to walk in the very footsteps of historical figures.

Her understanding of European history has been enriched as much by exhausting days walking the corridors and grounds of the Palace of Versailles as by descending to the dismal, tragic halls of the Conciergerie. It has similarly been her privilege to tramp the Parisian streets from the site of the Bastille by way of the Louvre and the Tuileries gardens to the Place de la Concorde and thence along the Champs Elyses to Napoleon's Arc de Triomphe. These experiences have provided both a mental and physical context in which people who lived centuries ago regain their humanity and tell their stories. It is her delight to share those stories with students.



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