Great Books 101: Ancient to Medieval

Encounter the Greatest Works of Western Literature

The greatest works of literature are not only fun to read but also provide unrivaled insights into the truth about human nature and choice. Reading the best literature is essential to broadening our understanding of the world and discovering the truth about how best to live. 

You can encounter the profound wisdom and beauty of the classic texts of the West in our free online course, “Great Books 101: Ancient to Medieval.” Taught by Hillsdale’s English faculty, this course will introduce you to the most revered authors in the Western tradition, including Homer, Sophocles, Virgil, Augustine, Dante, and Chaucer. From the epic poems of antiquity to the romances of the Middle Ages, these classic texts will challenge you to explore their timeless lessons on human nature, the divine, virtue, self-government, and so much more.

Enrollment in this course gives you free access to the lecture videos, course readings, and quizzes to aid you in the examination of the literary works that first shaped Western Civilization.

We invite you to join us today in this essential study of the great literature of the West.

Enroll in this free online course on the great books today!

To enroll in “Great Books 101: Ancient to Medieval,” please enter your email address.

What students say

Takes the student through the full context of the course subject matter. Wonderful insight into how we strayed and its consequences and offers a solution.

– Don


It's refreshing listening to ideas and thoughts that would be discussed in a classroom setting.  It's been quite a few years since I have been in that type of setting.  It's nice to be back.  It gets the creative juices running in the brain again.

– Susan


Content is well presented; the students are stellar in their responses and questions. Prof. Arnn does a fabulous job balancing teaching and allowing students to participate. Above all he makes complex ideas easy to understand.

– Hope