The History of 2023

How can we understand the events, ideas, and conflicts that have featured in the news cycle during the past year? “The History of 2023” offers informed reflections on this year’s momentous events, providing an opportunity to understand our world in its historical context. The course is modeled after a popular lecture series offered to Stanford undergraduates. Each week will feature a different Stanford faculty member speaking on a major news topic of the year, showing what we can learn by approaching it from a historical perspective. This course is being actively developed as the events of 2023 continue to unfold and is expected to include sessions such as: "Putin's War on Ukraine: Causes, Course, and Consequences” by Amir Weiner, associate professor of history "The Taiwan Crisis: A Century in the Making" by Tom Mullaney, professor of Chinese history"Hot or Cold: Climate and Environment in the Early Modern World" by Paula Findlen, Ubaldo Pierotti Professor of History "War 2023: Is Conventional War Back?" by Gil-li Vardi, lecturer in history “Money Matters: Milton Friedman and the Return of Inflation" by Jennifer Burns, associate professor of history The course will interest anyone who wants to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of 2023 and who is curious to consider how studying history can offer a deeper and richer understanding of tumultuous times.

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